Navi Pillay named winner of 2026 Nobel peace prize for efforts to promote international law - live
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latest: 15 Oct- Security09 Oct, 09:06
Navi Pillay named winner of 2026 Nobel peace prize for efforts to promote international law - live
The Nobel committee chair says the winner was ‘instrumental in ensuring war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted’ You can watch along below, but I will bring you all the key lines here. Spoiler alert (not really). Continue reading...
World news | The GuardianDeutsche Welle (English)The National (UAE) – News (general)BBC News – Africa - Economic09 Oct, 09:20
Live Updates: Navi Pillay, Former U.N. Human Rights Commissioner, Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Ms. Pillay, a South African lawyer, led an investigation that determined that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding the Israeli government rejected.
- Economic09 Oct, 12:18
South Africa's Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay, known for anti-Israel stance, wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
Navi Pillay was chair of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory that concluded last year that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
- Security09 Oct, 09:18
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to South African jurist Navi Pillay for promoting international law
Pillay, who is of Indian-Tamil origin, showed that legal measures can help prevent war and violence, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
- Economic09 Oct, 09:42
South African jurist Navi Pillay wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
Former UN human rights chief led commission that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza; Nobel committee honors her contributions to international justice
- Security09 Oct, 09:27
South Africa's Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to South Africa's Navi Pillay, a human rights champion who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and last year accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, the prize committee said.
- Security09 Oct, 10:35
Explainer-What is the International Criminal Court?
THE HAGUE, Oct 9 - South African judge Navanethem \"Navi\" Pillay, who was awarded the Nobel peace prize on Friday, has been a judge on several international courts, including the International Criminal Court. Here are some facts about this court:
- Humanitarian09 Oct, 09:32
ICJ judge Navi Pillay wins Nobel peace prize for promoting international law
Norwegian committee recognises achievements of former UN rights chief who stood up against apartheid in South Africa Nobel peace prize – latest updates Former UN human rights chief Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a judge on the international court of justice (ICJ), has won the Nobel peace prize. Pillay, 85, from South Africa, who is a judge with the international court of justice, was recognised for her efforts to promote peace and international law, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee. Continue reading...
- Security09 Oct, 09:46
Former ICC judge Navi Pillay wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
By Gwladys Fouche and Nora Buli OSLO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge who oversaw a UN report that concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday "for her efforts to promote peace and international law". This year's Nobel Peace Prize underlined the importance of maintaining an organised international order, the committee said in its citation. "The system of international law is under tremendous pressure, and its institutions are under attack," it said.
- Security09 Oct, 10:50
South Africa: South Africa-Born Navanethem "Navi" Pillay Wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
[The Norwegian Nobel Committee] The Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 goes to a person who with exceptional courage and integrity has led the way towards a more comprehensive global legal order. This year's laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.
- Security09 Oct, 11:04
South African judge Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to South Africa's Navi Pillay, the judge who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and who last year presided over a UN commission which accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Pillay, currently a judge on the International Court of Justice in a case where Myanmar also stands accused of genocide, has been "instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted," said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel
- Security09 Oct, 11:06
Navi Pillay, head of UN commission that declared genocide in Gaza, wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said. Pillay held states and national leaders accountable and brought hope to victims of violence and conflict, and demonstrated a firm moral compass in her long career, the committee said. “A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time,” the committee said. “This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. The Nobel jury said it was honouring her at a time when “the system of international law is under tremendous pressure and its institutions are under attack”. “At a time of existential challenges — including more wars and conflicts than the world has seen in a long time — international law is no longer just a supplement to peace and security. It is an absolute necessity,” Watne said. “Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career,” the committee said. Pillay was chair of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory that concluded last year that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Israel dismissed the report as “scandalous”. The prize — the ultimate diplomatic and humanitarian accolade — is sure to irk US President Donald Trump, whose administration has repeatedly attacked international justice institutions. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has made no secret of his desire to win the prize. “If you clap a little bit more I may share this prize with Trump,” Pillay said to a standing ovation captured by Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard in Nuremberg and posted on the social network X. The peace prize is the fifth Nobel awarded this week, after literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won in 2025. The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 12 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2m, is due to be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will. Pakistan nominates Trump Shortly before the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to X and said Pakistan had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his role in “advancing peace in South Asia”. Referring to last year’s brief military conflict with New Delhi, the prime minister said Trump’s “timely intervention helped bring Pakistan and India back from the brink and secure a ceasefire that is holding till today”. “In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Pakistan had nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize,” he added. “We sincerely hope the president’s efforts to promote peace and prevent conflict in our region receive due recognition this time,” he said. Last year, the government had decided to formally recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” to end the India-Pakistan escalation in May. In May 2025, a four-day conflict between Pakistan and India was sparked by an attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi, without evidence, linked with Pakistan. Islamabad strongly denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. After New Delhi launched deadly air strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7, Pakistan said it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat, later raising the tally to eight. After tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally reach a ceasefire. Since then, the US president has praised both PM Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on several occasions. Most recently, he called PM Shehbaz a “terrific man” during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month.
- Security09 Oct, 11:25
South African former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South Africa's Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, the judge who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and last year presided over a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
- Security09 Oct, 11:29
PROFILE – Navi Pillay: Nobel laureate who led UN inquiry that found genocide in Gaza
South African jurist awarded 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after nearly 6 decades confronting apartheid, war crimes and impunity
- Political09 Oct, 11:31
Navi Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in international justice
The South African-born jurist and former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, who is currently an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote peace and international law. Her win is sure to be seen as a high-profile rebuke to US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have both rejected the findings of a UN commission she led that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Both leaders also have been highly critical of the institutions where Pillay has worked. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle tells us more.
- Political09 Oct, 11:49
Navi Pillay — South Africa's global rights activist and Nobel winner
Former UN rights chief Navanethem “Navi” Pillay — awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday — is a global rights defender who has also served on the International Criminal Court and was South Africa’s first non-white woman high court judge. The 85-year-old built a formidable reputation during a decades-long career that took her from South African courts to the ICC and the International Tribunal for Rwanda. She gained global prominence for her outspoken condemnation of government repression of popular protests in the Arab world, including Libya and Syria. Between 2021 and 2025, she chaired a commission of enquiry created by the UN Human Rights Council to probe the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The panel, which does not speak for the UN and has faced harsh Israeli criticism, found that “genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur”, Pillay told AFP in 2025. “The responsibility lies with the state of Israel,” she said. Pillay is currently an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, working on a case deciding whether Myanmar’s crackdown on the Rohingya breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, with a ruling expected in the coming months. Groundbreaking Born the daughter of a bus driver in South Africa’s east coast city of Durban in 1941 to a family of Tamil descent, Pillay has had a groundbreaking career. She grew up in a poor neighbourhood in the southeastern coastal city during white minority rule, and studied law at the University of Natal before attaining a Master’s and Doctorate from Harvard. She became the first non-white woman to open a law firm in Durban where she carved out a reputation as a doughty defender of apartheid opponents. An illustration depicting 2026 Peace Prize laureate Navanethem “Navi” Pillay is pictured after, after the announcement of the 2026 peace prize winner, in Oslo, Norway on October 9, 2026. In 1973, she won the right for political prisoners in the notorious Robben Island penal colony — where jailed anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was held at the time — to have access to lawyers. A year after Mandela became president in South Africa’s first democratic vote in 1994, she made legal history by becoming the first woman of colour to be appointed to the country’s high court. Soon after, the late liberation hero recommended her to serve on a United Nations tribunal trying Rwandan genocide suspects. In 1998, she was among judges on the Rwanda tribunal that was the first to try rape as an act of genocide. Ten years later, Pillay was appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a role she held until 2014. Voice of victims Her upbringing in an unjust apartheid society spurred her to fight discrimination everywhere and earned her the reputation of being the voice of victims around the world. “We put up with the worst insults and racial discrimination and abused and treated like dirt,” Pillay told AFP in an interview in 2023. That could have made you “weak and cry” or “fight every step of the way”, she said. “So I always had a sense of confidence about who I am and how you confront any kind of discrimination. Open your mouth and speak up, condemning it. And that’s what I did in the UN.” The rights defender married in 1965 lawyer Gaby Pillay, who was also a political prisoner she represented while he was tortured in detention during apartheid rule. The couple divorced and Gaby died in the late 1990s. They had two daughters.
- Security09 Oct, 11:58
UN Watch condemns Nobel Peace Prize for Navi Pillay over alleged anti-Israel bias
UN Watch has strongly criticised the decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist and former United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay, accusing her of demonstrating bias against Israel and defending a colleague who made remarks widely condemned as antisemitic.
- Security09 Oct, 12:09
South Africa: South African Former UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize
[RFI] The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South Africa's Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, the judge who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and last year presided over a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
- Security09 Oct, 13:50
No peace without international law: The message behind Navi Pillay’s Nobel
Navi Pillay, a South African-born jurist and former UN human rights chief whose career has spanned from defending the rights of an imprisoned Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote international law as it comes under attack. For more, FRANCE 24’s William Hilderbrandt is joined by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 14:04
US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, hours after former judge wins Nobel
Oct 9 - US President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies.
- Security09 Oct, 14:46
Nobel Peace Prize Choice Amounts to Implicit Rebuke of Trump
The Trump administration has repeatedly attacked the international legal order and the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where the Peace Prize winner, Navi Pillay, served as a judge.
- Security09 Oct, 14:50
Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for career defending international law
OSLO: The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to South Africa’s Navi Pillay, the judge who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and presided over a UN commission which accused Israel of genocide in Gaza – a move angrily denounced by Israel.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 14:51
US slaps sanctions on ICC, hours after ex-judge wins Nobel
US President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies. The ICC’s deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, condemned the sanctions and said they would not halt the tribunal’s work. The Trump administration has long been hostile to the court and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges....
- Security09 Oct, 14:39
Italian opposition hail Nobel Peace Prize for Pillay
(ANSA) - ROME, 09 OTT - Italy's centre-left opposition on Friday hailed the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to South African human rights activist and jurist Navi Pillay and urged Premier Giorgia Meloni to further condemn Israel's actions in Gaza, which Pillay branded "genocide" last year. The 5-Star Movement (M5S) said "we're sorry for Giorgia Meloni who wanted to give the peace prize to Trump and for (Foreign Minister Antonio) Tajani for whom international law only applies 'up to a certain point' (referring to the way Israel stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, ed.), but this award presented to jurist Navi Pillay is a vitally important recognition of the role played by the United Nations and international justice institutions—such as the ICC, against which Tajani has even called for an investigation—in fearlessly exposing and prosecuting criminals, no matter how powerful they may be; this is precisely what Pillay did by acknowledging the 'genocide' in Gaza and gathering thousands of pieces of evidence against Netanyahu and Israel's military leadership." Green-Left Alliance (AVS) co-leader Angelo Bonelli said "the Nobel Prize awarded to Pillay honors a life dedicated to international law, precisely at a time when international justice is under attack. "Criticizing a government is not antisemitism—which must always be fought firmly. "Invoking Nazism against those demanding justice for Gaza helps neither Israel nor this cause. "We call on the Meloni government and Minister Tajani to distance themselves from (Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon) Sa'ar's remarks. Yet we already know they will not do so: the Meloni government will remain silent, just as it has throughout these years, complicit in the face of the Netanyahu government's crimes." The Israeli foreign ministry said earlier that Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels would be "applauding from Hell" the award to Pillay, former head of the Rwanda genocide panel and chair of last year's UN-commissioned commission of inquiry into Tel Aviv's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. "Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Pillay is not an act of justice, but the grotesque exploitation of an honor to legitimize hatred and prejudice against Israel," said the ministry. "Now that the Nobel committee has rewarded the greatest lie of the 21st century, Joseph Goebbels is surely applauding from hell," the ministry stated. "If there were a prize for lies, hatred, and defamatory accusations, Pillay would be the clear favorite. Her role in the relentless, politically motivated demonization of Israel and in promoting allegations of genocide speaks for itself." Meloni this week renewed her government's commitment to fighting antisemitism in a message marking the third anniversary of the "barbaric and horrific" October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel. She added: "Precisely in the name of protecting the whole civilian population involved, we cannot remain indifferent to the dramatic, unacceptable suffering of the people of Gaza or the escalating violence to which Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are subjected. "This spiral of violence must be broken." (ANSA). Read article...
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 12:14
Statement on the International Criminal Court following announcement of US sanctions
European Commission Statement Brussels, 09 Oct 2026 The European Union has been a constant supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is deeply regrettable that the United States has announced intent...
- Security09 Oct, 10:35
Explainer: What is the International Criminal Court?
THE HAGUE, Oct 9 - South African judge Navanethem \"Navi\" Pillay, who was awarded the Nobel peace prize on Friday, has been a judge on several international courts, including the International Criminal Court. Here are some facts about this court:
- Security09 Oct, 15:11
US imposes sanctions on international criminal court
Trump administration says US ‘doesn’t need’ ICC after accusing court of unfairly targeting Americans for war crime charges The United States imposed sanctions on the international criminal court (ICC), its latest escalation against an entity the Trump administration has accused of politicization and unfairly targeting Americans for war crime charges. The ICC accused Donald Trump’s officials of attempting to “obstruct the course of justice” after “an assault” on the international legal order. Continue reading...
World news | The GuardianDeutsche Welle (English)Kyodo News – Japan Wire (Latest)Deutsche Welle – World (EN) - Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:26
US imposes sanctions on ICC, hours after Nobel award to former judge
The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to cripple the tribunal’s operations just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize went to a former ICC judge who warned of mounting political attacks on the court. The move came on the same day the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to South Africa’s Navi Pillay, an 85-year-old jurist who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal, served on the ICC and later led a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he called a “rogue court,” escalating a long-running campaign by President Donald Trump’s administration against the Hague-based tribunal. “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” Rubio said in a statement, claiming that the court wants more power at the expense of American sovereignty. Rubio’s statement did not mention Pillay or the Nobel award. Instead, he said the sanctions were needed to protect security personnel and elected officials from prosecution by a court the United States has never joined. “President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans,” Rubio said, adding that the measures would cut off the court’s resources and cripple “its ability to operate”. The top US diplomat said Washington had, for more than a year, spelt out “basic gestures of good faith” it expected from the court, and had held off on the designation in hopes that the ICC or its member states would change course. He said no “meaningful steps” were taken to address US concerns. Rubio also called on US allies that belong to the court and “rely on American service members for their defence” to rein it in, warning that otherwise Washington would keep working to dismantle the ICC “brick by brick”. The Trump administration had previously sanctioned individual ICC officials, including its prosecutor and several judges, over the court’s investigations involving the United States and Israel, which is also not a member. Trump last month called on all ICC member states to quit the body, denouncing it as “out of control” and a “rogue institution. “ The court, however, rejected the US sanctions as an attack on international law and warned in a statement that “history will judge this moment”. In a statement, the court called the sanctions “an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law”. It added that such actions were aimed at intimidating ICC staff and disrupting its activities, vowing it would not be deterred. “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” ICC President Tomoko Akane was quoted as saying. The statement called on the ICC’s 125 members to side with the institution, saying: “Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it. “Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack,” said the court.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:32
US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, hours after Nobel award to former judge
The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to cripple the tribunal’s operations just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize went to a former ICC judge who warned of mounting political attacks on the court. The move came on the same day the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to South Africa’s Navi Pillay, an 85-year-old jurist who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal, served on the ICC and later led a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he called a “rogue court,” escalating a long-running campaign by President Donald Trump’s administration against the Hague-based tribunal. “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” Rubio said in a statement, claiming that the court wants more power at the expense of American sovereignty. Rubio’s statement did not mention Pillay or the Nobel award. Instead, he said the sanctions were needed to protect security personnel and elected officials from prosecution by a court the United States has never joined. “President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans,” Rubio said, adding that the measures would cut off the court’s resources and cripple “its ability to operate”. The top US diplomat said Washington had, for more than a year, spelt out “basic gestures of good faith” it expected from the court, and had held off on the designation in hopes that the ICC or its member states would change course. He said no “meaningful steps” were taken to address US concerns. Rubio also called on US allies that belong to the court and “rely on American service members for their defence” to rein it in, warning that otherwise Washington would keep working to dismantle the ICC “brick by brick”. The Trump administration had previously sanctioned individual ICC officials, including its prosecutor and several judges, over the court’s investigations involving the United States and Israel, which is also not a member. Trump last month called on all ICC member states to quit the body, denouncing it as “out of control” and a “rogue institution. “ The court, however, rejected the US sanctions as an attack on international law and warned in a statement that “history will judge this moment”. In a statement, the court called the sanctions “an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law”. It added that such actions were aimed at intimidating ICC staff and disrupting its activities, vowing it would not be deterred. “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” ICC President Tomoko Akane was quoted as saying. The statement called on the ICC’s 125 members to side with the institution, saying: “Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it. “Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack,” said the court.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:33
EU calls US sanctions announcement against International Criminal Court 'deeply regrettable'
Bloc reaffirms support for court's independence, signals readiness to take measures to protect its operations and sees opportunity for dialogue with Washington
- Economic09 Oct, 15:39
"Bigot, Corrupt Prosecutor": Netanyahu On Peace Nobel Winner Navi Pillay
Pillay headed the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which does not speak on behalf of the world body, and which last year found that Israel was committing "genocide" in Gaza.
- Security09 Oct, 15:48
US sanctions ICC hours after Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former judge
WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to cripple the tribunal’s operations just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize went to a former ICC judge who warned of mounting political attacks on the court.
- Economic09 Oct, 09:43
Navi Pillay: Nobel laureate who led UN inquiry that found genocide in Gaza
She chaired a UN commission probing violations by all sides in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:50
Belgium 'strongly condemns' new US sanctions against International Criminal Court
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot urges EU to activate Blocking Statute to protect court's independence and those supporting its work
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:49
Italy reaffirms confidence in the ICC, opposes US sanctions
(ANSA) - ROME, 09 OTT - Italian foreign ministry sources said Friday that Italy reaffirmed its confidence in the International Criminal Court and opposed sanctions the United States unveiled against the ICC earlier in the day, a few hours after former ICC jurist Navi Pillay got the Nobel Peace Prize. Italy is among the Western nations set to issue a declaration reaffirming their confidence in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and reiterating their opposition to US sanctions against the Court, according to sources at the Italian Foreign Ministry (Farnesina). "Support for the Court will be reaffirmed," the sources explained; "alongside countries such as Germany, France, Japan, and Canada, Italy reiterates its backing for the ICC's independence, impartiality, and integrity." Italy and the other nations involved state that they wish to pursue a constructive and inclusive dialogue with states that are not parties to the Rome Statute, such as the United States. Furthermore, Italy and its partners declare that they "note with satisfaction the work undertaken by the Court to prepare for the imposition of such sanctions, ensuring that the Court can continue to fulfill its mandate under the Rome Statute." Italy, therefore, "reiterates its unwavering support for the Court to do so." (ANSA). Read article...
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:31
Statement from Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on the plans to expand sanctions against the International Criminal Court
It is deeply concerning that the United States has announced plans to expand sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). This puts pressure on an important, independent court that must be able to carry out its vital work free from political pressure.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 16:01
Trump administration hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions
The Trump administration imposed sweeping new sanctions Friday on the International Criminal Court, which it says is politicized and attempting to illegally prosecute Americans and Israelis. The court denounced the U.S. move as "an assault on the rule of law" aiming to prevent its work.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 15:19
International Criminal Court faces 'test of resilience' as US imposes sweeping sanctions
The Trump administration has imposed sweeping new sanctions on the International Criminal Court as part of its campaign to dismantle what it describes as a "rogue" tribunal, threatening to cripple its operations. Following the move, the European Union said it was "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work".
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 16:17
Italy, 7 other countries say unwavering support for ICC, regret on US sanctions
(ANSA) - ROME, 09 OTT - Italy and seven other countries on Friday voiced unwavering support for the International Criminal Court and expressed regret over newly announced US sanctions against the ICC. "We, States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reiterate our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC," said a joint declaration by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. "As staunch supporters of the International Criminal Court (ICC), we express our regret and firm opposition to the announcement of sanctions that the United States intends to impose on the Court." If implemented, "such sanctions would have a significant impact on the Court's activities, its staff, and their families," the text continues, with the ministers reaffirming their commitment "to upholding the rules-based international order and promoting accountability." (ANSA). Read article...
- Security09 Oct, 16:34
US sanctions against International Criminal Court draw opposition as countries warn of impact on its work
6 European nations, Canada and Japan reaffirm 'unwavering support' for court, warn measures could affect staff and their families
- Security09 Oct, 16:40
Israel Denounces the Decision to Award the Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay
Ms. Pillay, a human rights lawyer, was drawn into the international spotlight last year as chair of a commission that found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 14:44
België veroordeelt nieuwe sancties tegen het Internationaal Strafhof en pleit voor Europese beschermingsmaatregelen
Belgium condemns new sanctions against the International Criminal Court and calls for European protective measures jeroen.francois Fri, 10/09/2026 - 16:48 Statement United States International Criminal Court Diplomatic map October 9, 2026 Belgium strongly condemns the new sanctions announced by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC). Such measures undermine the independent functioning of the International Criminal Court, which plays an essential role in the fight against impunity for the most serious international crimes. The International Criminal Court’s mandate is to ensure accountability for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression, while delivering justice for victims. The international community must continue to support this mission resolutely. Belgium reaffirms its unconditional support for the independence of the International Criminal Court and for the principles enshrined in the Rome Statute. Maintaining an independent, impartial and effective system of international criminal justice is in the interest of all states and peoples. In light of the announced sanctions, Belgium will continue to advocate within the European Union for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute. This European protection mechanism is designed to counter the effects of foreign sanctions. Its purpose is to prevent European citizens, businesses and organisations from being adversely affected by sanctions imposed by non-EU countries. It allows the European Union to mitigate the impact of such measures and to provide protection to those affected by them. Belgium believes that the European Union must protect not only the International Criminal Court, but also its own sovereignty and decision-making autonomy. Extraterritorial sanctions that affect European citizens, institutions and companies must not prevent the European Union from independently implementing its international obligations and policy choices. Belgium calls on all states to continue supporting the International Criminal Court and to remain committed to protecting international law. International justice is a fundamental pillar of a rules-based international order. Keep up-to-date Subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed about the activities of our FPS Our spokespersons Florinda Baleci florinda.baleci@diplobel.fed.be Maxime Ramon maxime.ramon@diplobel.fed.be Social Media Hide all social media Show all social media
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 17:12
US unveils sanctions on ICC in move court condems as 'assault on rule of law'
The European Union described the move against the International Criminal Court as "deeply regrettable".
- Security09 Oct, 17:28
Navi Pillay, South African Jurist, Is Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
The choice drew condemnation from Israel over Ms. Pillay’s role leading a U.N. commission that said the country had committed genocide against Palestinians.
- Security09 Oct, 17:27
Navi Pillay awarded Peace Prize: 'Lifetime spent fighting for what's right & to uphold human rights'
Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Rosa Freedman, Professor of Law Conflict and Global Development at the University of Reading. Navi Pillay's career represents a remarkable contribution to international law and human rights, from her pioneering role in post-apartheid South Africa to her work at the United Nations. Yet her legacy also raises difficult questions about political impartiality, particularly in relation to Israel and Gaza. She believes we need to distinguish between the significance of her lifelong achievements and the controversy surrounding the decision to award her the Nobel Peace Prize at this particular moment. More broadly, this debate invites us to examine whether the prize is recognising individual merit or increasingly serving as a vehicle for political messaging. At a time when international law and multilateral institutions face mounting pressure, and serious threats, Freedman asserts that the challenge is to scrutinise their shortcomings without undermining the principles they exist to uphold.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 18:37
European countries condemn US sanctions against ICC
Reactions across Europe stress need to protect court’s independence, uphold international justice
- Economic09 Oct, 15:26
Watch: Who is Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay?
BBC correspondent Joe Inwood explains how Pillay's childhood in South Africa led her to become a driving force in international law from Myanmar to Gaza.
- Security09 Oct, 18:01
Ukraine reaffirms support for International Criminal Court following US sanctions
Ukraine has reaffirmed its commitment to the International Criminal Court following US sanctions, saying the court is vital in the prosecution of Russian war crimes.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 18:49
Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize as US sanctions threaten international justice
From defending Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found genocide in Gaza, South African-born jurist Navi Pillay has won the Nobel Peace Prize for championing international law.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 20:51
Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Former ICC Judge
The United States imposed new sanctions on the international body in response.
- Security09 Oct, 21:53
South African judge awarded Nobel Peace Prize
In tonight's programme, South African judge and human rights champion Navi Pillay has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Also in Kenya health officials in Nairobi are still racing to track dozens of people linked to the man who died from the virus earlier this week. And finally, Moroccan-British photographer Hassan Hajjaj has built a global reputation with his vibrant portraits, 40 of his iconic Rock Stars pictures are taking centre stage in Paris.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 20:00
Secretary-General Condemns United States Imposition of Sanctions against International Criminal Court
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 12:00
‘Serious blow’: Guterres condemns new US sanctions on International Criminal Court
The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowing on Friday to “dismantle the ICC, brick by brick” unless it ends what Washington regards as a “threat” to its citizens.
- Diplomatic09 Oct, 18:55
US imposes sanctions on ICC hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize
The United States imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, hours...
- Security10 Oct, 04:48
'An indelible stain on Norway': Trump fumes over Nobel Peace Prize snub
Trump slammed the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay, calling her "a liberal person who works at the United Nations, who nobody has ever heard of," while arguing that the US deserved the award.
- Economic10 Oct, 02:16
Former ICC judge Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge who oversaw a UN report that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday "for her efforts to promote peace and international law".
- Security10 Oct, 02:19
Trump slams Norway and Nobel committee after missing out on Peace Prize
US President Donald Trump reiterated his complaints on Friday about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a disgraceful and embarrassing decision that had left a stain on Norway, which hosts the Nobel committee. Trump unleashed on Norway hours after the committee awarded this year’s prize to Navi Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge who oversaw a UN report that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Trump called Pillay a “mystery person” during a campaign rally...
- Security10 Oct, 05:58
US announces sanctions on ICC, hours after Nobel award to former judge
The United States on Friday announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to cripple the tribunal's operations just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize went to a former ICC judge who warned of mounting political attacks on the court.
- Political10 Oct, 06:39
‘Betrayal of international law’: US sanctions on ICC draw widespread condemnation
US President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies. The court denounced the move as an “assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order” and called on its 125 member states to take action to defend it. “The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it,” the ICC said in a statement, adding that the issue was about safeguarding the international order grounded in the rule of law. “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” it said. The move drew widespread condemnation from governments, human rights activists and international organisations, including the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the US announcement of sanctions against the ICC as an institution. In a statement, he said “accountability for international crimes and the delivery of justice to victims were central to the global commitment to peace, security, human rights and fundamental freedoms”. UN Guterres reiterated his unwavering support for the independence of the court and its officials. The foreign ministry of Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement opposing the sanctions. “As committed supporters of the ICC we regret and strongly disagree with the announcement of sanctions to be imposed upon the Court by the United States,” the statement said, as shared by Germany’s Foreign Office on X. The ministers also welcomed the court’s preparations to ensure it could continue to fulfil its mandate under the Rome Statute, reaffirming their support for its work. Japan also issued a statement backing the court, joining the other countries in opposing the US move and reiterating its support for the ICC’s ability to carry out its mandate. Belgium condemned the sanctions, saying “the ICC must be able to operate independently”. It called for the activation of the European Union’s Blocking Statute to protect the court. Human rights advocates warned that the sanctions threatened justice for victims of abuses in Palestine, Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan, describing the move as “an unprecedented assault on global justice and the rule of law”. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the ICC as the “cornerstone of the international criminal justice system”. She said she had spoken with ICC President Tomoko Akane following Washington’s announcement, adding that the six-month period before the sanctions take effect offered an opportunity for dialogue. “The EU has always supported the Court, and the EU has options to ensure that it can continue its vital work,” Kallas said, adding that protecting the ICC remained an EU priority. The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs also condemned the sanctions in a post on X, saying: “The UK stands with the International Criminal Court and we stand united with our partners in strongly disagreeing with sanctions imposed on the Court. “The ICC must be permitted to continue its critical work holding perpetrators of the most horrific international crimes to account.” Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard criticised the sanctions, describing the move as “a betrayal” of the principles of international criminal law. In a post on X, she urged European governments to “impose immediately blocking orders” to prevent the sanctions from being implemented on European territory. The US Treasury announced the sanctions with a six-month initial grace period, and some other exemptions that would allow some transactions for telecoms, software, payment of pensions and transactions related to detainees. Rubio said the sanctions had been structured to give the court and its member states an opportunity to address US concerns, and would be adjusted if those demands were not met. Washington has denounced the ICC over arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and an investigation into actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan, which the ICC says is “deprioritised.
- Security10 Oct, 07:14
Trump calls Nobel Peace Prize pick 'disgraceful'
US President Donald Trump slammed the “disgraceful” Nobel Peace Prize choice on Friday as leaving an “indelible stain” on Norway, arguing that the award should have gone to him. South African judge and human rights champion Navi Pillay won the prestigious prize on Friday in recognition of her work against war crimes and crimes against humanity. But Trump labelled the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s choice as “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision”, telling a rally of his supporters in Syracuse, New York he had “never heard of” Pillay. “I never heard of this particular person, but congratulations anyway,” he said. “The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t.” He said the choice of Pillay as laureate left “an indelible stain on the country of Norway”. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has made no secret of his desire to win the Nobel Peace prize. But his war against Iran, his territorial expansion ambitions as in Greenland, his hard line on migrants, and his attacks on multilateralism and the media disqualified him, according to experts in Oslo speaking before Pillay was announced as laureate. The prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and a prize sum of $1.2 million. “The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation,” Trump said. Pillay had joked about sharing her prize with Trump, telling a crowd who applauded her after the announcement of the award: “If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump.” The jibe appeared to be in reference to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who gave her Nobel gold medal to Trump after winning the prize last year.
- Security10 Oct, 15:00
Nobel peace laureate Pillay calls US sanctions on ICC 'unacceptable'
Jurist and former UN rights chief Navi Pillay, the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on Saturday called sanctions announced by the US on the International Criminal Court (ICC) “unheard of” and “unacceptable”. “There is so much tension and anxiety over the continued existence of international courts, mainly the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” Pillay said via video link from Nuremberg during an event at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, lamenting “there are hundreds of staff who feel they are under threat”. “Most importantly, sanctions have been announced by one country against the judges, just for the judicial orders they issue. This is unheard of, unacceptable,” the 85-year-old South African lawyer said. The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday announced that Pillay, who once sat on the ICC, was this year’s recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Both the United States, whose leader Donald Trump has long coveted the award for himself, and ally Israel condemned her being awarded the honour. Hours after Pillay was named the laureate, the United States announced new sanctions against the ICC, provoking swift condemnation from member states and the United Nations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he described as a “rogue court”, escalating a long-running campaign by Trump’s administration against the Hague-based tribunal. ‘History will judge’ The court rejected the US sanctions as an attack on international law and warned in a statement that “history will judge this moment”. In addition to serving on the ICC, Pillay was the UN human rights high commissioner from 2008 to 2014, and headed the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), which found last year that genocide was occurring in Gaza. The body does not speak on behalf of the UN. Israel has rejected the COI’s findings, calling them “distorted and false”. Israel’s foreign ministry said the award legitimised “anti-Israel hatred”, adding that it thought that Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels must be “applauding from hell”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the awarding of the prize to Pillay showed the Nobel committee had “lost its moral compass” by honouring “a bigot”. Trump, who last month called on ICC member states to quit the court, meanwhile labelled the committee’s choice as “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision”, telling a rally of his supporters in Syracuse, New York, he had “never heard of” Pillay.
- Security10 Oct, 15:02
Nobel peace laureate calls US sanctions on International Criminal Court 'unacceptable'
Jurist and former UN rights chief Navi Pillay, the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on Saturday called sanctions announced by the US on the International Criminal Court (ICC) “unheard of” and “unacceptable”. “There is so much tension and anxiety over the continued existence of international courts, mainly the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” Pillay said via video link from Nuremberg during an event at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, lamenting “there are hundreds of staff who feel they are under threat”. “Most importantly, sanctions have been announced by one country against the judges, just for the judicial orders they issue. This is unheard of, unacceptable,” the 85-year-old South African lawyer said. The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday announced that Pillay, who once sat on the ICC, was this year’s recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Both the United States, whose leader Donald Trump has long coveted the award for himself, and ally Israel condemned her being awarded the honour. Hours after Pillay was named the laureate, the United States announced new sanctions against the ICC, provoking swift condemnation from member states and the United Nations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he described as a “rogue court”, escalating a long-running campaign by Trump’s administration against the Hague-based tribunal. ‘History will judge’ The court rejected the US sanctions as an attack on international law and warned in a statement that “history will judge this moment”. In addition to serving on the ICC, Pillay was the UN human rights high commissioner from 2008 to 2014, and headed the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), which found last year that genocide was occurring in Gaza. The body does not speak on behalf of the UN. Israel has rejected the COI’s findings, calling them “distorted and false”. Israel’s foreign ministry said the award legitimised “anti-Israel hatred”, adding that it thought that Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels must be “applauding from hell”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the awarding of the prize to Pillay showed the Nobel committee had “lost its moral compass” by honouring “a bigot”. Trump, who last month called on ICC member states to quit the court, meanwhile labelled the committee’s choice as “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision”, telling a rally of his supporters in Syracuse, New York, he had “never heard of” Pillay.
- Diplomatic10 Oct, 15:12
US sanctions a 'test of resilience' for ICC
THE United States has announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) that threaten to cripple its operations and spark fresh transatlantic tension.
- Security10 Oct, 17:27
'Won War, Stopped Iran': Trump Rants Again Over Not Getting Peace Nobel
Trump's remarks came after the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday that Pillay had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
- Security11 Oct, 00:45
Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize is a rebuke to Trump
The award sends a message at a time when the international order is approaching a dangerous breaking point
- Diplomatic12 Oct, 07:52
South Africa: Trump Misses Out On Nobel Prize Again and Imposes New Sanctions On the International Criminal Court. What Does It Mean?
[The Conversation Africa] Rumours have been circulating for weeks about the United States imposing tougher sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), because of what US President Donald Trump sees as unfair targeting of Americans and Israelis for prosecution.
- Security12 Oct, 10:38
Africa: UN Human Rights Chief Hails Award of Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay
[allAfrica] Geneva -- United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk spoke with pride on Friday for global human rights when he ''warmly'' congratulated South African Navi Pillay for winning the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for those who fight for the rights of others.
- Security13 Oct, 04:57
South Africa: Who Is Navi Pillay, the South African Judge Who Won the Nobel Prize? We Asked Her Biographer
[The Conversation Africa] International human rights judge Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel peace prize. She was honoured for her lifelong dedication to international law and global justice.
- Security13 Oct, 14:50
Hamas praises Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay over genocide allegations against Israel
Hamas used Navi Pillay's Nobel Peace Prize win to renew demands for international legal action against Israeli officials, citing her commission's findings on the Gaza war.
- Diplomatic15 Oct, 06:48
Responding to US sanctions on the International Criminal Court
Responding to US sanctions on the International Criminal Court Expert comment sfarrell.drupa… 15 October 2026 The US decision to extend sanctions has upped the ante in its campaign against the ICC. The Court’s supporters must decide how to respond, perhaps now it is time to put all options on the table. On 9 October 2026, the US designated the International Criminal Court under Executive Order 14203, extending its existing sanctions package on individual ICC officials to the entity itself as a whole. The US imposed asset freezes on any property owned by the Court and prohibited all transactions by US individuals or entities involving the ICC. The US has allowed certain limited exceptions to this general prohibition, to allow for the ongoing detention of some awaiting trial, the payment of pensions, the use of IT software and social media and a 180-day ‘wind down’, allowing certain otherwise prohibited transactions until April 2027. These sanctions were introduced by the US in what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called an ongoing campaign to ‘dismantle the ICC brick by brick’. ‘For decades, Republicans and Democrats alike rejected the idea that the International Criminal Court had the power to prosecute American citizens, military service members, or political leaders. America never joined the court. We don’t need it. And we don’t want it,’ Rubio said in a statement. ‘We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American service members for their defense, to rein in the court. If they do not, the United States will continue its campaign to dismantle the ICC, brick by brick, until Americans are threatened no longer,’ he added. The ICC called the sanctions ‘an attempt to obstruct the course of justice and to prevent the Court from doing what it was created to do. It is an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law.’ Those countries that have signed up to the ICC – the ‘State Parties’ – now have to decide how to respond, through diplomacy; support or the ‘nuclear option’. The impact An asset freeze essentially prevents making any economic resources available directly or indirectly to the ICC. They must be observed by all US persons and green card holders, wherever they are in the world, all US companies and any person in the US. If left unchecked, the US sanctions could severely hamper the day-to-day operations of the ICC They also apply to any transactions or data routed through the United States. In reality, this can often limit (at best) and prevent (at worst) nearly all financial transactions of a designated person. As such, if left unchecked, the US sanctions could severely hamper the day-to-day operations of the ICC. The General Licence operates to provide a wind down period, but at most provides a stay of execution and the potential for diplomatic efforts to reverse or mitigate the impact. The Court itself noted that whilst it endeavours to continue functioning as normal, international cooperation is imperative as the Court’s fate also rests in ‘the hands of the States that created it’. So far, foreign ministers of the UK and others have issued a Joint Statement affirming their unwavering support for the ICC. The EU has also said that it stands ready ‘to take all necessary measures to ensure the Court continues to operate effectively and fulfils its indispensable mandate’. Below are recommendations on how the UK government may best respond to the ICC designation in coalition with other State Parties. Diplomatic Engagement State Parties should open the dialogue as necessary to address the US concerns regarding the authority of the ICC. The 180-day Maintenance General Licence, marked as a show of good faith, intends to achieve just that. It provides State Parties the chance for diplomatic engagement. The ICC’s Assembly of States Parties in December will provide an opportunity to review and align the response of the State Parties to the US. Practical Support: Preparing for the Worst In parallel to diplomatic efforts, State Parties can start to consider what practical assistance they can provide in the event that diplomatic efforts are unsuccessful or that companies start de-risking sooner rather than later and start to withdraw services before the expiry of the US General Licences that could impact – as no doubt the US intends – the ongoing investigations and operations of the Court. As such, whilst the US General Licence might allow for a 180-day ‘wind down’ of the provision of crucial goods and services, companies caught by US sanctions may simply decide to stop working with the Court at any time. That means the State Parties need a comprehensive plan to support the Court, covering everything from provision of IT to support on banking and payment routes, and everything in between. Blocking Statute: the Nuclear Option Some State Parties – in particular the UK and EU Member States – may have the option of turning to the ‘Blocking Statute’. This has been dubbed the ‘nuclear option’ by Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen. It would essentially prohibit any natural or legal person from complying with US sanctions. But Blocking Statutes have only been deployed vary rarely in the past, primarily targeting US extra-territorial over-reach where it has imposed sanctions against countries like Cuba and Iran, and required those outside of US jurisdiction to comply with them. However, even this nuclear option’ is not without its limitations. First, it won’t be available to all State Parties without new primary legislation. Second, even where the legislation is in place, it is not clear that the US measures would fall squarely within the legislation which is designed to protect ‘trading interests’ against extra-territorial measures. An argument could certainly be made, but it could face challenge if ever relied upon. Third, it only applies to those caught by the relevant jurisdiction. In the UK and EU, for example, the prohibition on complying with the US sanctions would only have to be observed by UK/EU nationals, UK/EU companies or those operating in the UK or EU. Finally, it essentially puts domestic companies between a rock and a hard place – fail to comply with US sanctions or fail to comply with the UK/EU ‘Blocking Statute’. State Parties with this potential option have not deployed it despite the US targeting of judges and Court staff; perhaps now the US has upped the ante in its campaign against the Court, it is time for its supporters to put all options on the table.