UN experts on Monday condemned an executive order by US President Donald Trump authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), including asset freezes and travel restrictions on staff and affiliates.

The experts stated that the order violates the rule of law, obstructs justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity and weakens the ICC’s ability to hold perpetrators accountable. They claimed that by punishing ICC personnel, the US is effectively empowering war criminals and obstructing global accountability efforts. Their joint statement accused Trump of undermining “the ‘never again’ legacy of Nuremberg.”

The experts also stressed that “[j]ustice must apply equally to all,” without exception and attempts to intimidate ICC officials violate the Rome Statute. Article 70 of the Rome Statute prohibits “efforts to impede or intimidate an official of the Court or to retaliate against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that official.” The article also extends the court’s jurisdiction over such offenses. The US is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and rejects ICC jurisdiction.

Trump signed the order on February 6 after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense of Israel Yoav Gallant. The order asserted that the ICC had improperly claimed jurisdiction over the US and Israel. It stated that the ICC’s actions endangered US personnel and threatened US sovereignty and national security.

The ICC strongly opposed the order. Officials there stated that “the Court has become indispensable,” in the prosecution of “atrocities” that continue to impact the “innocent.” In the wake of the sanctions, 79 countries reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for the court.