Beti Hohler, a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) who is also sanctioned by the United States, has called upon European nations to offer greater resistance against US sanctions. Speaking to “Die Zeit”, Hohler stated that nations should make a clear public condemnation of the sanctions, asserting that this has political weight. Furthermore, she urged these states to advise service providers within their borders that the EU does not recognize the effect of these sanctions outside of the U.S.
Hohler, who is 44, has been affected by US sanctions for nearly a year. Her involvement in the ICC includes serving on the chamber that issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. She was among the first four judges placed on the OFAC sanctions list by the Trump administration in June 2025, with subsequent cases following. In total, eleven ICC staff members have been sanctioned by the US, eight of whom are judges.
The sanctions have profoundly changed Hohler’s daily life. “A European bank where I have been a customer for decades closed my account with immediate effect” she told “Die Zeit”. Within 24 hours of the sanctions being enacted, her credit cards were cancelled. European banks often terminate accounts of individuals on sanctions lists because they fear facing punitive measures themselves. Hohler expressed concern over the global financial system, noting that every financial institution depends on the US in foreign exchange trading. “This ‘overcompliance,’ or preemptive adherence to rules, gives me great worry as a European citizen. It shows how unprotected we are” she explained.
The immediate lack of access to credit cards is particularly difficult, especially for online transactions, as many vendors accept only credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal, none of which she can use because they are offered by US companies. She found that booking hotels without a credit card was highly difficult, and renting a car was impossible.
Beyond financial constraints, Hohler saw numerous other digital services suspended. For instance, her Apple ID was deactivated several months after the sanctions. Her accounts with US providers such as Amazon and Airbnb were also locked or terminated. “What is most draining is that you are not warned. You don’t have time to organize yourself” Hohler observed. “What works today might no longer work tomorrow”.