The Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, alleged that the measure was an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.” The White House issued an executive order yesterday in response to what it called “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting the United States and our close ally Israel.”

The argument refers to the arrest warrant the ICC issued last year against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza.

The Court stands firmly by its staff and pledges to continue to bring justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities around the world, the ICC said in a statement.

We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to unite in defense of justice and fundamental human rights, the statement added.

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