The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—called into doubt last month because of serious sexual assault allegations against the main prosecutor—remains a sore point across much of Europe, with many leaders continuing to support the Hague-based organisation.

But the U.S. on Thursday imposed sanctions on four of the court’s top judges—including two who authorised what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as the “illegitimate arrest warrants” targeting Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—and called on others to do the same.

The @IntlCrimCourt’s baseless and politicized targeting of America and our close ally Israel must end. Today, I have sanctioned four ICC judges for infringing on U.S. and Israeli sovereignty – two who authorized the ICC’s baseless investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 5, 2025

In a particularly pointed statement, Rubio said:

I call on the countries that still support the ICC, many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices to fight this disgraceful attack on our nation and Israel.

He was referring also to the court’s “baseless” investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.

‘The Lawfare Project’ director Brooke Goldstein thanked Rubio for his “moral clarity.” European leaders are likely to take a very different view.

Retired British Army officer Richard Kemp said Washington was “right” to take action against the ICC and called on Keir Starmer’s Labour government to “follow suit.” That’s unlikely given one of its first actions after winning last year’s general election was dropping its challenge to the arrest warrants.

Danish journalist Paula Larrain also said that prime minister Mette Frederiksen remains “unequivocally behind” behind the ICC, ruling out another avenue for potential support.

Hungary has, however, already parted ways with the rest of the EU, having initiated the process for leaving the ICC in April and later receiving Netanyahu with military honours in Budapest. Germany’s Friedrich Merz has also invited the Israeli PM for a visit, saying he would “find ways and means” to prevent an arrest.

The ICC attacked U.S. sanctions against four of its judges as a “clear attempt” to undermine its “independence.”