At the United Nations this week, President Trump repeated his attacks on the International Criminal Court and urged other nations to pull out of the global tribunal. The United States earlier this year imposed sanctions on the president of the ICC and a senior prosecutor who was part of the team that issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for crimes against humanity in Gaza, and the Trump administration is reportedly preparing more sanctions against the institution itself. Meanwhile, a coalition of nations has formed to defend international law in solidarity with the people of Palestine under the banner of the Hague Group, which was established last year by Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.
“It’s an absolute low point for the sacred grounds of the United Nations that President Trump has shown up here and attacked the international legal order,” says Varsha Gandikota, executive secretary of the Hague Group.
We also air remarks from South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, who spoke earlier this week at the historic Riverside Church in New York City to urge respect for international law.
