The United States imposed sanctions on four additional officials at the International Criminal Court, escalating its confrontation with the Hague-based tribunal over investigations involving American and Israeli nationals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designations on 20 August, describing the court as a national-security threat and accusing it of pursuing “lawfare” against Washington and its closest Middle-East ally. Those targeted are Judge Kimberly Prost of Canada, Judge Nicolas Yann Guillou of France, and Deputy Prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal. The measures freeze any assets they hold in U.S. jurisdictions, bar their entry to the country and forbid U.S. persons from conducting financial transactions with them. According to the State Department, Guillou authorised arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over the Gaza conflict, while Prost backed a 2020 decision allowing an ICC probe of alleged war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Khan and Niang have continued investigations into Israel’s military operations and other conflict zones. The ICC condemned the sanctions as a “flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.” France voiced “consternation,” and a United Nations spokesperson said the move undermines international justice. Israel welcomed Washington’s action, calling it a firm response to what it regards as a smear campaign by the court. The latest designations follow a first round of U.S. sanctions on four ICC judges in June, signalling sustained pressure on the tribunal.