ICC will be defended 'brick by brick', Dutch PM says

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on Friday that the Netherlands would defend the International Criminal Court “brick by brick” as the Hague-based tribunal faces pressure from the United States.

Jetten told reporters the Dutch government felt responsible for ensuring the court can function properly and would “protect it brick by brick where necessary”. He said the Netherlands was working diplomatically to tell Washington that broad sanctions on the ICC would damage transatlantic ties.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on several senior court officials and is considering wider penalties against the institution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he would dismantle the court “brick by brick” and has pressed the ICC’s 125 member states to leave it.

US President Donald Trump has objected to the ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Jetten also said several countries were working on proposals to reform the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. He said the message to the United States was to join that discussion and “prevent further escalation”.

The ICC is based in The Hague, Jetten’s hometown. The Netherlands has responsibilities to the court under a headquarters agreement signed in 2008.