Cyprus was on Friday one of 79 United Nations member states to sign a joint statement expressing their support for the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The statement was issued the day after United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the court over investigations it had launched into the State of Israel.

The court had in November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in their military offensive in Gaza which began in October 2023, which killed tens of thousands of Palestinian people.

Trump’s executive order accused the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against both Netanyahu and Gallant.

The order adds that the ICC has “no jurisdiction over the US or Israel”, and that the arrest warrant had set a “dangerous precedent”.

It also added that the US will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for “transgressions” committed by the ICC, with possible consequences including the blocking of property and assets, and the denial of entry into the US for ICC officials, employees, and their families.

In response, the 79 UN member states said they “reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC”.

“The court serves as a vital pillar of the international justice system by ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes, and justice for victims. Today, the Court is facing unprecedented challenges.

“Measures sanctioning the court, its officials and staff, and those cooperating with it [have been] adopted in response to the Court carrying out its mandate,” the statement read.

It added that such measures “increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to erode the international rule of law, which is crucial for promoting global order and security”.

“Sanctions would severely undermine all situations currently under investigation as the court may have to close its field offices. Advancing the ICC’s vital work serves our common interest in promoting accountability,” it said.

“As strong supporters of the ICC, we regret any attempts to undermine the court’s independence, integrity and impartiality.  We are committed to ensuring the ICC’s business continuity so that the court can continue to carry out its functions effectively and independently.”

When the arrest warrants were issued in November, a Cypriot government source told Reuters that the government considers arrest warrants issued by the ICC as binding in principle.