Dutch Parliament approves exploring protection for the "International Criminal Court" from US sanctions

The motion requested that the government, in cooperation with the Dutch Central Bank and the European Central Bank, explore ways to ensure that the Court and other legal entities affected by sanctions have access to international payment systems.

The options proposed included making payments through a public financial institution, allowing the concerned parties to continue meeting their financial obligations despite the pressure of external sanctions.

The motion emphasized that it is undesirable for third countries to indirectly determine the ability of an independent international judicial institution to access payment systems.

It stressed that the Netherlands, as the host country of the Court, bears a special responsibility to ensure the continuity of its work.

The motion also called on the Netherlands to take a leading role within the European Union to strengthen Europe's sovereignty in the face of other major powers.

The motion received a positive stance from Foreign Minister Tom Bruijn, and support from the parties of the MPs who submitted it, along with the rest of the ruling coalition parties and most opposition parties.

The US sanctions, scheduled to take effect in April 2027, include a ban on providing financial services to the Court.

Conversely, the Parliament rejected motions submitted by MP Stephan van Baarle of the "DENK" party, which called for condemning US and Israeli attempts to weaken and intimidate the Court, and for summoning the ambassadors of both countries to the Foreign Ministry.

It also rejected a motion by MP Suzanne Kröger of the GreenLeft-Labour alliance, calling for bringing children from the Gaza Strip to the Netherlands for medical treatment on a case-by-case basis.

The Parliament also did not approve another motion submitted by MP van Baarle, which called for not restricting demonstrations in support of Palestine.