WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is sanctioning four judges by the International Criminal Court, a court investigation into Israel’s investigation into war crimes in the Hamas war in Gaza and the West Bank.

The State Department said Thursday it would freeze assets owned by ICC judges from Benin, Peru, Slovenia and Uganda in U.S. jurisdictions. The move is just the latest step in the government's investigation into Israel and the United States to punish the ICC and its officials.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement: “As an ICC judge, these four individuals have actively participated in the illegal and unfounded actions of the ICC to the United States or our close allies, Israel.”

"The International Criminal Court is politicized, wrongly claiming unbound discretionary investigations, prosecuting and prosecuting the United States and our allies," Rubio said. "This dangerous claim and abuse of power violates the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel."

In February, the Hague-based Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was included in Washington's "specially designated nationals and locked people" list, banning him from doing business with Americans and restricting him from entering Us Khan last month until allegedly investigated sexual misconduct.

Within minutes of the government's announcement, the court condemned its action. "These measures explicitly attempt to undermine the independence of the international judiciary," ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said in a statement.

The new sanctions target is ICC Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, from West African country Benin, and was a member of the judge who issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year. She also served on the bench that initially conducted a green investigation into alleged Israeli crimes in the Palestinian territory in 2021.

The 69-year-old is also part of a panel of judges who issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. Last year, the Moscow Court issued an arrest warrant in Moscow.

Beti Hohler was elected as judge from Slovenia in 2023. She worked in the court's prosecutor's office, leading Israel to objection to her participation in lawsuits involving Israeli officials. In a statement last year, Holler said she had never worked in the Palestinian territorial investigation during her eight years as a prosecutor.

Bouth Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Caranza from Peru and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda are the appeal judges for the ICC. Every woman works on cases involving Israel.

Neither the United States nor Israel are legal in the court, and the court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu's arrest warrant after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Israel strongly denies the allegations.

Trump attacked the International Criminal Court with sanctions during his first term, expressed dissatisfaction with the Israeli investigation and complained about alleged war crimes committed by U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The Joe Biden administration lifted these sanctions in early 2021.

Rubio said the United States will continue to take action to protect its and Israel's interests in the courts. "The United States will take any action we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, Israel's sovereignty, and any other U.S. allies from illegal actions by the International Criminal Court," he said.

Liz Evenson, International Justice Director of Human Rights Watch, said the Trump administration’s sanctions “aim to seek a sense of responsibility in serious crimes committed by Israel and Palestinians, as well as Israeli atrocities in Gaza, including our accomplices, in serious crimes committed by Israel and Palestinians.”

“While President Trump is working to weaken it at home, the U.S. sanctions against ICC judges are a blatant attack on the rule of law,” Evanson said in a statement. “Sanctions are intended to prevent human rights violations, not to punish those seeking justice for the worst crimes.”