WASHINGTON — The United States imposed new sanctions on senior International Criminal Court officials on Tuesday, escalating its campaign against the tribunal. The Treasury Department designated the court's prosecutor and additional staff for asset freezes and barred them from the US financial system.

The move followed months of warnings from Washington after the ICC issued arrest warrants tied to Israeli leaders over the conduct of the war in Gaza. The Trump administration has repeatedly rejected the court's jurisdiction over the United States and its allies, characterizing the proceedings as politically motivated.

Under the sanctions, named individuals face asset freezes and are barred from the US financial system, according to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. American citizens and companies are prohibited from conducting transactions with those listed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously described the court as a threat to US sovereignty. The European Union and several member states have defended the Hague-based institution, with the Netherlands, which hosts the court, expressing concern that sanctions undermine international justice.

Human Rights Watch condemned the measures as an assault on accountability for war crimes. The ICC's presidency said in a statement that the court would continue its work independently and that pressure on its officials would not deter ongoing investigations.