This French judge approved Netanyahu’s arrest warrant. Now Trump is targeting him | Owen Jones
In a striking development, three judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have found themselves on a U.S. sanctions list typically reserved for terrorists and serious criminals. This unprecedented action follows their decision to approve arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif, the ex-commander of Hamas’s military wing. The U.S. government has characterized these judicial actions as “illegitimate and baseless,” claiming they undermine the interests of the United States and its allies, particularly Israel. As a result, these judges, including French judge Nicolas Guillou, now face severe repercussions, including being barred from entering the U.S. and experiencing significant restrictions in their financial and professional lives.
Nicolas Guillou’s personal experience highlights the far-reaching implications of this sanctioning. He has reported difficulties in carrying out everyday activities, such as booking a hotel online, which led to his reservations being canceled. His situation exemplifies the broader consequences faced by individuals placed on such lists, which now number around 15,000 and include notorious figures like Vladimir Putin and members of terrorist organizations. The sanctions not only isolate these judges diplomatically but also disrupt their financial transactions, effectively blacklisting them from much of the global banking system. This case raises critical questions about the integrity and effectiveness of the so-called “rules-based order,” as the actions against the ICC judges reflect a growing trend of political influence over judicial processes, particularly concerning international law and human rights. The situation emphasizes the complexities and challenges of maintaining a fair and impartial legal system in the face of geopolitical tensions.
Three ICC judges have been put on a sanctions
list with terrorists after approving an arrest warrant for Israel’s prime minister.
This is the charade of the ‘rules-based order’
The fate of one French judge is a case study in the west’s long unravelling. Nicolas Guillou cannot shop online. When he used Expedia to book a hotel in his own country, the reservation was cancelled within hours. He is “blacklisted by much of the world’s banking system”, unable to use most bank cards.
Guillou, you see, has been sanctioned by the United States, putting him on a
15,000-strong list
alongside al-Qaida terrorists, drug cartels and Vladimir Putin. Why? Because alongside two other judges of the international criminal court pre-trial chamber I, he approved arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif, the former commander of Hamas’s military wing. Guillou and his colleagues had “actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel”,
the US claimed
when imposing the sanctions in June. All are now barred from entering the US – but that is the least of the consequences.
Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist
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