U.S. sanctions the International Criminal Court hours after a former ICC judge wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The UK and seven allies back the court
On 9 October the Nobel committee named Navi Pillay, a South African former judge of the International Criminal Court and former UN human rights chief, as the 2026 Peace Prize winner. Hours later Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced U.S. sanctions on the court, calling it a 'rogue court'. Reuters reported that the measures go further than earlier ones and could penalise companies that provide services to the court. Reports tie the move to the court's arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. An ICC prosecutor condemned the sanctions and said the court would carry on. The foreign ministers of the UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands issued a joint statement of support.
The court is the main permanent forum for prosecuting war crimes. Sanctions on the institution itself, not just on individuals, could hamper its banking, technology and staffing.
The UK is one of the court's main backers. Firms that supply services to the court could face difficult choices if U.S. rules reach them.
Supporters say the court is independent and its work must be protected.
The U.S. says it is not under the court's jurisdiction and that the warrants were unjustified.
The practical test is how the sanctions are applied: whether banks and suppliers cut ties, and whether the UK and EU use legal measures to shield the court.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 6 · Morning · SAT., OCT. 10, 2026