The lawsuit, brought by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, comes as the Trump administration intensifies diplomatic efforts against the Hague-based court. Earlier this week, U.S. officials said the ICC posed a threat to U.S. sovereignty and pledged to expand sanctions, including travel restrictions on court personnel, while increasing pressure on the institution.

According to the complaint, the organizations contend that Trump’s February 2025 executive order has prevented them from engaging in activities protected under the First Amendment. They argue they have refrained from submitting information to the ICC and coordinating advocacy with individuals targeted by U.S. sanctions because of concerns they could face financial penalties or imprisonment.

The complaint also states that the sanctions extend to ICC judges and prosecutors as well as Palestinian human rights groups that called on the court to investigate allegations that the United States and Israel may have committed war crimes during the conflict in Gaza. Among those cited by the plaintiffs is Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, whose inclusion under the sanctions has, according to the lawsuit, further discouraged advocacy efforts.

“The Trump administration is using the blunt instrument of economic sanctions not only to punish human rights defenders but to police the political expression of millions of Americans,” Omar Shakir, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, said in a statement.

Trump has consistently challenged the authority of the ICC, arguing that the court should not have jurisdiction over U.S. citizens, particularly members of the American military. His administration has maintained that international prosecutions involving U.S. personnel infringe upon national sovereignty.

The latest legal challenge follows a similar dispute during Trump’s first term. In 2020, his administration issued an executive order authorizing sanctions against ICC officials after the court pursued investigations that included possible crimes committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. A federal judge later blocked that order, finding it was likely to violate First Amendment protections. The sanctions were subsequently rescinded by President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021.

The Trump administration renewed its campaign against the ICC after the court issued an arrest warrant last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close U.S. ally. The renewed sanctions have also prompted separate legal action from three ICC judges, who have filed their own lawsuits challenging the measures.

Although ICC prosecutors opened an investigation in Afghanistan in 2020 that included alleged crimes involving U.S. forces, the court shifted its priorities in 2021. Since then, prosecutors have focused primarily on alleged crimes committed by Afghanistan’s former government and Taliban forces. According to the information provided, the court has not taken steps in recent years to investigate U.S. personnel.

The Trump administration’s latest announcement drew criticism from European partners that continue to support the ICC. On Tuesday, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the court and described it as an essential institution in efforts to combat impunity for serious international crimes.

European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said attacks or threats directed at the court, its elected officials, staff or individuals cooperating with its work were unacceptable. He added that the ICC does not target sovereign states and should not be regarded as a threat to their sovereignty.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry also reiterated its backing for the independence of international judicial institutions. In comments to Reuters, the ministry said it had taken note of the latest U.S. statements, describing Washington’s position as longstanding but expressing concern over what it called the increasingly hardened tone toward the court.

The request, announced on Tuesday, concerns Banda’s alleged role in an assault on the Haskanita military base in North Darfur that killed 12 African Union peacekeepers. Banda had faced three counts of war crimes linked to the attack.

In a statement, the Office of the Prosecutor said the passage of time had significantly weakened the case, leaving investigators without a sufficient evidentiary basis to pursue prosecution.

“Due to the significant deterioration of evidence over time, and the exhaustion of available investigative avenues, there are no longer substantial grounds to believe that Mr. Banda is responsible,” prosecutors said.

According to the prosecution, witnesses have become unavailable or unwilling to cooperate, while credibility concerns have emerged regarding other key witnesses. Prosecutors also cited recently obtained exculpatory evidence as a major factor undermining the case.

“Witnesses becoming unavailable or uncooperative, serious credibility issues regarding some other key witnesses, and recently obtained exculpatory evidence have undermined the case against Mr. Banda,” the Office of the Prosecutor said.

Banda, who was born in 1963, first appeared voluntarily before the ICC in 2010. During that appearance, he urged others accused of similar crimes to come before the court and assert their innocence.

His trial had originally been scheduled to begin in 2014. However, proceedings were abandoned after the court concluded he was unlikely to appear voluntarily, leading judges to issue an arrest warrant.

The prosecution said that during the more than decade after Banda absconded from justice, the evidentiary foundation of the case continued to erode despite efforts to pursue additional investigative avenues.

Although prosecutors submitted their request to discontinue the case in October 2023, the application remained confidential until judges approved its publication.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan acknowledged the significance of the decision, particularly for victims who have waited years for accountability.

“We do not take this decision lightly,” Khan said. “We acknowledge the impact it will have on the victims who have been waiting for years for justice.”

She added that the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes committed in Darfur remains a priority for the prosecution despite the request to end proceedings against Banda.

The ICC continues to seek the arrest of former Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, who remains wanted over allegations connected to the conflict that erupted in Darfur in 2003. The war began after ethnic African rebel groups accused the Arab-dominated Sudanese government of discrimination, triggering a conflict that led to widespread allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court’s latest move marks a rare instance in which prosecutors have sought to withdraw charges because they no longer believe the available evidence meets the legal threshold required to proceed with a prosecution.

Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said investigators had secured additional evidence connecting crimes committed in Darfur to leadership figures, marking significant progress in an inquiry that has focused on some of the deadliest episodes of Sudan’s civil war.

“We have got additional evidence, strong evidence, linking what is occurring in Darfur with leadership levels. And we are very, very pleased to say that this is a breakthrough for us,” Khan said after visiting eastern Chad, where she met victims who fled violence in Sudan.

Khan declined to identify which leadership figures the evidence concerns, citing ICC rules. She also would not say whether prosecutors had sought or planned to seek arrest warrants, but said she was confident the investigation would produce results “in at least a reasonable time.”

The ICC is investigating attacks on the Darfur cities of Al-Geneina in 2023 and Al-Fashir in 2025. U.N. experts have said fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces committed crimes bearing the “hallmarks of genocide” against members of non-Arab communities during those attacks.

Establishing responsibility for senior political or military leaders in international criminal cases often depends on obtaining so-called linkage evidence, such as testimony from insider witnesses or documentary records showing that commanders or political leaders were informed about or directed operations carried out on the ground.

Al-Geneina and Al-Fashir witnessed some of the heaviest fighting in the war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has continued for more than three years. The RSF now controls both cities, and Khan told the U.N. Security Council in January that the paramilitary group had not cooperated with the court’s investigation.

The RSF has denied deliberately targeting civilians and has said it would hold any individual perpetrators accountable for abuses.

Khan said ICC investigators had collected testimony describing executions and sexual violence during the attacks. She said survivors’ accounts would form part of future court proceedings.

Sudan is not a member of the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC. However, the U.N. Security Council granted the court jurisdiction over alleged atrocity crimes committed in Darfur from 2005 onward.

Khan said Sudan’s army-led government had cooperated with investigations into the latest attacks, although it has not surrendered several former senior officials wanted by the ICC over allegations of genocide and other crimes linked to the earlier Darfur conflict. No public arrest warrants have yet been issued in relation to the current war, which began in April 2023.

Asked whether countries accused of supporting the commission of crimes could face action, Khan said the court’s jurisdiction extends to individuals rather than states and that investigators remained focused on crimes committed in Al-Geneina and Al-Fashir to achieve concrete prosecutorial results.

Khan also expressed hope that Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso would reconsider their decisions to withdraw from the Rome Statute after the three Sahel nations initiated the withdrawal process. She said continued membership in the treaty system strengthened international accountability for serious crimes.

Authorities deployed more than 6,000 police officers, including anti-riot units, around the Senate complex in Manila as supporters and opponents of Duterte prepared to stage demonstrations. Under a pretrial schedule reviewed by The Associated Press, Duterte or her legal team may appear when proceedings formally open, with the trial expected to span 92 days.

The impeachment case stems from charges approved by the House of Representatives last month, where lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to impeach the vice president. The accusations include alleged unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential state funds and a public threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady and a former House speaker assassinated if she herself were killed amid escalating political tensions.

Duterte has denied the allegations and has rejected accusations of wrongdoing, although she has largely declined to publicly address the charges in detail before the trial begins.

If found guilty by the Senate, Duterte would face permanent disqualification from holding public office, effectively ending her declared intention to contest the 2028 presidential election, when Marcos is constitutionally due to complete his single six-year term.

A conviction requires the support of two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, or 16 votes.

The impeachment proceedings unfold against the backdrop of a dramatic collapse in the political alliance that propelled Marcos and Duterte to victory in the 2022 national elections. Their partnership united two of the Philippines’ most influential political dynasties but deteriorated into an increasingly bitter public rivalry after they assumed office.

Sara Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was defined by a controversial anti-drug campaign. He was arrested last year under an order issued by the International Criminal Court and transferred to The Hague, where he remains in custody and is scheduled to stand trial on Nov. 30 over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the anti-drug crackdown.

International human rights organizations and several Western governments have criticized the campaign, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of mostly poor drug suspects. Rodrigo Duterte has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, although he repeatedly issued public threats against suspected drug offenders while serving as president.

The vice president has accused Marcos of being responsible for her father’s arrest and transfer to the ICC, further deepening the political rift between the two camps.

The dispute has also highlighted contrasting foreign policy orientations. Marcos has strengthened defense cooperation with the United States while adopting a firmer stance toward China’s increasingly assertive activities in the disputed South China Sea. By contrast, Rodrigo Duterte cultivated closer ties with China under President Xi Jinping and with Russia under President Vladimir Putin while frequently criticizing Washington. Sara Duterte has also faced criticism from political opponents for not publicly condemning Chinese actions against Philippine vessels and fishermen in contested waters.

The impeachment trial also comes amid legal troubles involving several senators viewed as allies of the Duterte family. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested last month on a non-bailable plunder charge linked to an alleged flood-control bribery scheme, an accusation he denies. Senator Rodante Marcoleta faces a possible arrest over a separate non-bailable plunder case involving alleged undeclared campaign donations, which he has also denied.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who served as Rodrigo Duterte’s national police chief during the anti-drug campaign, has gone into hiding after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant accusing him of being a co-perpetrator in the killings investigated by the tribunal.

The Senate proceedings are expected to become one of the Philippines’ most consequential political trials in recent years, testing the country’s constitutional accountability mechanisms while carrying significant implications for the balance of power before the next presidential race.

The Bar Standards Board said on Friday that Khan’s suspension took immediate effect and would be reviewed by an independent panel within four weeks. The move follows a separate decision by the ICC’s governing body on June 8 to suspend Khan from his duties while proceedings related to the allegations continue.

Khan, 56, has denied all accusations and said he would challenge the measures taken against him. His supporters have argued that he has become a target of political pressure following his pursuit of arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials over Israel’s conduct in the Gaza conflict.

The ICC’s 125 member states are scheduled to consider Khan’s future at a special session of the court’s governing body on July 24.

The case stems from allegations first raised in 2024 by a female aide who accused Khan of engaging in a non-consensual sexual relationship with a younger staff member. Following the emergence of the allegations, the court commissioned an external United Nations-led investigation.

A summary of the confidential 18-month inquiry reviewed by Reuters found a “factual basis” for the allegations. Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing.

In May 2025, Khan took voluntary leave from his position, with his two deputy prosecutors assuming responsibility for the office’s day-to-day operations.

The developments come at a particularly sensitive moment for the ICC, which has faced mounting political pressure over investigations involving major powers and their allies.

The United States, which is not a member of the court, has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan, in response to arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the court’s earlier investigation into alleged crimes involving U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Washington has also warned that additional sanctions against the court remain possible.

Founded in 2002 and based in The Hague, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of member states or by their nationals.

The decision was taken by the 21-member bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the court’s management and oversight body, which voted by qualified majority to suspend Khan while referring the matter to the full assembly representing all ICC member countries.

“The bureau decided by qualified majority to suspend the Prosecutor from duty with immediate effect pending the final decision of the Assembly of States Parties as the competent decision-maker,” the bureau said in a statement.The bureau stressed that the measure should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt or responsibility.

“The bureau emphasizes that this suspension is not an indication of the final outcome,” the statement added.The move is expected to have limited immediate impact on the court’s operations because Khan, 55, has been on leave since May 2025 while contesting the allegations. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.

A special session of the Assembly of States Parties will be convened as soon as possible to consider the matter and determine the next steps, according to the bureau.Khan, a British lawyer who became ICC prosecutor in 2021, has overseen several high-profile investigations and prosecutions.

He drew international attention after seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations linked to the Gaza conflict.

Those applications triggered strong criticism from Israel and its ally, the United States, which opposed the court’s actions. Khan subsequently became one of the first ICC officials to face sanctions from Washington in connection with the court’s investigations.

Prior to stepping aside, Khan had also led investigations involving conflicts and alleged war crimes across multiple jurisdictions, making him one of the most prominent figures in international criminal justice.

The ICC has not indicated a timetable for the Assembly of States Parties to reach a final decision on Khan’s status. Until then, court operations are expected to continue under existing institutional arrangements.

Israeli bulldozers entered Barta’a to execute the demolition order issued a day earlier, according to the Palestine News Agency. Residents said only eight families managed to remove their belongings before the operation began, while others refused to evacuate their possessions.

Witnesses said residents protested by climbing onto rooftops of the targeted homes in an attempt to prevent the demolitions. Israeli forces later removed the protesters before the buildings were razed.

The demolitions left about 100 Palestinians facing displacement, according to local reports.

The operation comes amid a prolonged Israeli military campaign in and around Jenin. Since launching operations in the city and its refugee camp in January 2025, Israeli forces have displaced more than 20,000 people and destroyed approximately 600 homes, most of them in the Jenin refugee camp.

Israel says structures built without the required permits are subject to demolition under planning and zoning regulations in the occupied territory.

Palestinians and rights groups have long criticized the permit system, arguing that obtaining construction approvals is extremely difficult and that demolitions contribute to displacement and territorial fragmentation in the West Bank.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Israeli settlement expansion, military operations and demolitions remain central points of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel is facing legal proceedings at both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice relating to its actions in the Palestinian territories. Israel rejects allegations of war crimes and genocide and has challenged the legitimacy of the cases.

Indonesian journalist Rahendro Herubowo said activists were beaten, shocked with tasers and held in overcrowded detention containers after Israeli forces seized the flotilla near Cyprus on May 18-19. He alleged detainees were denied adequate water and medical assistance during their confinement.

Sri Lankan activist and medic Sameera Mahboobdeen said dozens of activists suffered injuries, including suspected fractures and head wounds, while requests for medical treatment were ignored. She also alleged that several women reported sexual assault during detention.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of around 50 boats and 400 activists, was attempting to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza by challenging Israel’s maritime blockade.

Malaysia-based group Sumud Nusantara said it has documented allegations of excessive force, sleep deprivation, restricted access to food and water, and prolonged interrogations. The group is coordinating with Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry to pursue legal action and seek an investigation through the International Criminal Court.

Israeli authorities had not publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in the activists’ accounts.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Seoul, Lee said the South Korean citizens had been detained without valid legal grounds and suggested the incident required a firm diplomatic response from his government.

Lee did not provide further details regarding the identities of the detained nationals or the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

The remarks marked one of the strongest public criticisms of Israel by the South Korean administration since escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered broader international scrutiny over maritime operations and regional security measures.

Lee also referred to international legal pressure facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying many European countries appeared prepared to act on warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
However, Lee said South Korea would make an independent assessment regarding any potential legal or diplomatic measures involving Israel.

The comments come amid heightened international debate over maritime interdictions, humanitarian flotillas and military operations linked to the conflict in Gaza and wider regional tensions involving Israel and its allies.

Neither Israeli officials nor South Korea’s foreign ministry immediately issued additional public statements regarding the detentions.

Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces allegations including misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth accumulation and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady and a former House speaker. She has denied all wrongdoing.

The impeachment proceedings unfold amid intensifying political divisions between the Duterte and Marcos camps, whose alliance secured victory in the 2022 national election before deteriorating into a bitter power struggle.

The Senate trial could determine whether Duterte remains eligible for public office and preserves her status as a leading presidential contender. A conviction would require support from two-thirds of the 24-member Senate and would bar her from holding office.

The political climate surrounding the case has become increasingly volatile following the dramatic return of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a close Duterte ally who had reportedly been in hiding for months while facing scrutiny linked to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the former president’s anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa resurfaced ahead of a crucial Senate vote that installed Duterte ally Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, positioning him to preside over the impeachment proceedings.

Analysts said the leadership shift may strengthen Duterte’s standing within the chamber, where several senators are viewed as aligned with the Duterte political bloc.

“Given that we now have a new majority, thanks to the efforts of Senator Bato, it would make prosecuting Vice President Sara in the impeachment court a little more difficult,” Ederson Tapia, a public administration professor at the University of Makati, said.

The impeachment process comes as Rodrigo Duterte awaits proceedings before the International Criminal Court over allegations tied to his deadly anti-narcotics campaign during his presidency.

The renewed focus on dela Rosa has added to tensions in Manila after reports of unrest and gunfire linked to attempts to arrest the senator. Philippine authorities confirmed on Friday they would pursue legal action to detain him, while dela Rosa has sought relief from the Supreme Court, arguing there is no legal basis for enforcing a warrant issued by an international tribunal.

President Marcos has publicly distanced himself from the impeachment effort, describing it as a matter for the legislature.

The Senate has not announced a formal start date for the trial proceedings.