Numerous countries have reaffirmed their “steadfast support” for the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the imposition of sanctions by U.S. President Donald Trump on the court’s staff.

A significant majority of ICC member states, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, have emphasized that the ICC is a critical component of the international justice system.

Trump’s sanctions were announced after he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking the first foreign leader’s visit since Trump assumed office for his second term. The ICC had previously issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and a Hamas commander, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza. The U.S. government, along with Israel, has criticized the ICC for its perceived equivalency between Israel and Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group.

The ICC, a global court empowered to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, has 125 member states, including several European nations. The U.S. and Israel do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.

On Friday, 79 countries, including the U.K., France, and Germany, signed a joint statement condemning Trump’s executive order. Notably absent from the list of signatories were countries such as Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy.

Earlier, the ICC had called for global solidarity in upholding justice and human rights, reaffirming its commitment to delivering justice to victims of atrocities worldwide.

The ICC’s prosecutor has said there is credible evidence suggesting that Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and the Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, who was killed last year, could be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The White House memo, however, accused the ICC of creating a “shameful moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas, particularly by issuing arrest warrants for both parties. Trump’s executive order criticized the ICC’s actions as setting a dangerous precedent and infringing upon U.S. sovereignty and national security interests.

The U.S. sanctions, which were announced during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, are expected to target individuals involved in ICC investigations, including financial and visa restrictions for those implicated. There are concerns that these sanctions could hinder the court’s ability to carry out its technical and investigative operations, affecting evidence gathering and possibly deterring victims from testifying.

Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first chief prosecutor of the ICC, emphasized that the global response to these developments would be crucial, urging countries like the U.K., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia to stand against Trump’s actions.

The United Nations has called for the reversal of the sanctions, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserting that the ICC must be allowed to operate freely in its mission to combat global impunity.

In contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed strong support for Trump’s executive order, denouncing the ICC’s actions as “immoral” and lacking legal foundation, accusing the court of failing to adhere to international law.