Washington is threatening to block the work of the International Criminal Court. This comes as the ICC continues an investigation into US troop activity in Afghanistan. And as Palestinians attempt to start an ICC investigation of Israel. US National Security Advisor John Bolton announced the moves Monday. CGTN White House Correspondent Jessica Stone reports.

JOHN BOLTON WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER "I'm here to make an announcement on US policy towards the international criminal court ICC."

A long time critic of the international criminal court, US national security adviser John Bolton said Washington will retaliate against the ICC if it attempts to endive the Americans for the alleged use of torture in Afghanistan.

JOHN BOLTON WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER "We'll not cooperate, engage, fund or assist the ICC in any way. The president will not allow American citizens to be prosecuted by foreign bureaucrats."

Bolton says the US will ban ICC judges and prosecutors from coming into the country and sanction their finances even prosecute them in the US criminal system.

JESSICA STONE WASHINGTON "Bolton's remarks come on the very same day that the US state department announced plans to close the Washington office of the Palestinian Liberation Organization."

The state department said this decision was consistent with US policy to oppose and punish Palestinian attempts to bring Israel before the ICC. It is not the first time the administration has disappointed the Palestinians. In May the Trump administration moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. And over the weekend Trump slashed 25 million dollars in USA to Palestinian hospitals in east Jerusalem.

The White House notified the Palestinians last Nov. it would close their Washington office unless they entered Syrian peace talks with Israel. So what does this mean for a White House peace plan for the region? Bolton says Jared Kushner, Trump's Senate law, is still working on it. Jessica Stone, CGTN, Washington.