When absolute power corrupts absolutely

Only Americans can elect a maverick like Donald Trump as President a second time to take office as the 47th President.

Dozens of countries have expressed “unwavering support” for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on its staff. A majority of member states, including the UK, Germany and France, said that the ICC was “a vital pillar of the international justice system”. Trump announced the sanctions after hosting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – the first foreign leader to visit him since returning to power. Last year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza – which Israel denies – as well as for a Hamas commander. The US has condemned the court’s “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas.

The US and Israel do not recognise the authority of the ICC, the only global court with powers to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It has also previously launched investigations into US citizens. The ICC counts 125 member states around the world, including the UK and many European nations. The UK, France and Germany were among the 79 signatories to a joint statement issued on Friday to condemn Trump’s executive order. Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy were conspicuous by their absence! The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a global court with the power to bring prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. US President Donald Trump has announced sanctions against the court, which he accuses of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”. They are partners in crime! The court, based in the Dutch city of The Hague, was established in 2002 to hold rogue leaders responsible for atrocities to account. World leaders had increasingly pushed for its creation in the wake of the Yugoslav wars and the Rwandan Genocide. It is a court of last resort, intervening only when national authorities cannot, or will not, prosecute. It can only deal with crimes committed after 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute – which established the court – came into force.

The Rome Statute has been ratified by 125 countries, including the UK and many European nations. More than 30 others have signed and may ratify it in the future.

However, the US and Israel are not members of the ICC. Judges at the court said there were “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif bore “criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity”.

The Rome Statute has been ratified by 125 countries, including the UK and many European nations. More than 30 others have signed and may ratify it in the future.

It is sheer hypocrisy to see how the so called democracies condemn unequivocally invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s Russia while illegal occupation of Palestine by Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is acceptable to Trump who seems to think he owns USA to do whatever he wants! Fair to say all the same some aspects of his political agenda under the caption of “America First” – deport illegal immigrants, to impose heavy tariffs to contain China flooding the world with its manufactured goods, etc., do make sense. But, as leader of the world’s richest country, he cannot behave like a loose cannon!

Sunil Dharmabandhu
Wales, UK