U.S. State Department Press Release:
Sanctioning Foreign NGOs Directly Engaged in ICC’s Illegitimate Targeting of Israel
(September 4, 2025)
On September 4, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced U.S. sanctions on three Palestinian NGOs—Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—for their involvement in International Criminal Court (ICC) efforts to prosecute Israeli nationals. Designated under Executive Order 14203, the move highlights Washington’s opposition to what Rubio called the ICC’s politicized overreach and disregard for sovereignty. He emphasized that neither the United States nor Israel is party to the Rome Statute and warned of “significant and tangible consequences” for entities complicit in the ICC’s actions.
The following is the full text of the statement.
Today, I am designating three foreign NGOs—Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan), and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)—pursuant to Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court.” These entities have directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel’s consent.
This administration has been clear: the United States and Israel are not party to the Rome Statute and are therefore not subject to the ICC’s authority. We oppose the ICC’s politicized agenda, overreach, and disregard for the sovereignty of the United States and that of our allies. The ongoing actions of the ICC set a dangerous precedent for all nations and we will actively oppose actions that threaten our national interests and infringe on the sovereignty of the United States and our allies, including Israel.
The United States will continue to respond with significant and tangible consequences to protect our troops, our sovereignty, and our allies from the ICC’s disregard for sovereignty, and to punish entities that are complicit in its overreach.
All targets are being designated pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14203
Source: “Sanctioning Foreign NGOs Directly Engaged in ICC’s Illegitimate Targeting of Israel,” U.S. Department of State, (September 4, 2025).
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