WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has imposed sanctions on Kimberly Prost, a Canadian judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This action is part of the Trump administration's ongoing opposition to the tribunal. The sanctions were enacted because Prost authorized an investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.

In addition to Prost, judges from France, Fiji, and Senegal have also been sanctioned. The State Department has linked these sanctions to the ICC's investigation into Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Prost is now among a growing number of ICC judges facing similar sanctions from the U.S.

The State Department has characterized the ICC as a "national security threat" and claims it has been used as a tool for "lawfare" against the United States and its ally, Israel. This stance reflects a broader criticism of the ICC by the Trump administration, which has previously condemned the court's actions.

The ICC has responded to these sanctions, stating that they undermine the independence of international judicial institutions. The ongoing tensions highlight the complex relationship between the U.S. and the ICC, particularly regarding investigations that involve American personnel.