Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on the European Commission to activate the “Blocking Statute” to protect the independence of International Criminal Court (ICC) judges and prosecutors investigating allegations of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported Thursday.
In a social media post published Wednesday evening, Sanchez stated that “imposing sanctions on the defenders of international justice jeopardizes the entire human rights system,” adding that “the European Union cannot remain idle in the face of such injustice.” The Spanish premier continued: “We are calling on the Commission today to activate the ‘Blocking Statute’ to protect the independence of the ICC and the United Nations […] and their efforts to end the genocide in Gaza.” He noted that the Blocking Statute is an EU mechanism that allows the bloc to bypass or refuse compliance with extraterritorial laws and decisions from third countries that harm its interests.
Sanchez further demanded concrete action against sanctions imposed on ICC members since early 2025, which currently target 11 judges and prosecutors.
