THE US was slammed for shielding war criminals for its own political gain today after it voted to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Last week, the lower chamber of US Congress passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.

If voted through both chambers, the legislation will sanction any foreigner who investigates, arrests, detains or prosecutes US citizens or those of an allied country, including Israel, that does not recognise the authority of the court.

The Act was passed after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netaynhu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza. 

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has accused the US of protecting the alleged war criminals simply because they are allies and that it is “recklessly seeking to destabilise the world order for its own political gain.”

The ICJP has signed a joint statement along with more than 120 coalition partners calling for the US to drop the sanctions and respect the international legal system.

ICJP senior legal officer Dania Abul Haj said: “This step by the US endangers the work of the ICC — a court that has been a cornerstone of the international order since its establishment decades ago.

“Without effective accountability mechanisms, we risk creating a world where perpetrators are not accountable for their crimes, not just in Palestine, but all across the globe.

“Such threats and extortionate measures should be opposed by all states that have a sense of the importance of the rule of law and understand the overarching implications of this legislation. 

“This is thuggery and bullying tactics from the US as it recklessly seeks to destabilise the world order for its own political gain.”