ICC Deputy Khan: US Sanctions Wobble Staff Accounts, Yet Gaza Cases Press On

The United States announced new sanctions against the International Criminal Court on October 9, giving the body six months to address Washington's concerns. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said the measures are already affecting staff, even though the formal effective date is still months away. She noted that the court continues its work without reducing output.

Khan stated that some employees face banking difficulties because financial institutions are over-complying to manage risk. She explained that the sanctions target the institution, not individuals, yet staff report trouble with their accounts. She described the current scope of the measures as uncertain, which drives this cautious banking behavior.

The court is switching software from Microsoft to European alternatives and negotiating with service providers for banking and health insurance. Khan said all investigations continue, and no decisions have been made to lower capability based on the sanctions. She acknowledged that the full impact will only be known once the measures take effect.

The Gaza war investigation has advanced since November 2024, when arrest warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Khan said no new charges have been announced because the court ruled that warrants must remain secret until judges approve public release. She assured that progress is happening despite the lack of public announcements.

Khan, who was among 13 ICC staff sanctioned by the US in February 2025, described life without a credit card as inconvenient. She contrasted this with visits to refugee camps, where victims seek justice regardless of financial tools. She said the faces of victims put her personal inconvenience into perspective.

The European Parliament awarded the court and its officials the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought on Thursday. The ICC registrar is also negotiating with the EU to block the sanctions or protect the court. Khan called the prize a strong message for the staff, noting that the court remains relevant to victims who need a path to justice.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ICC a rogue court in October. He claimed without evidence that global experts want to prosecute US citizens. Khan said no Americans have been brought before the court, though the pretrial chamber unsealed four arrest warrants against Taliban members for gender persecution this month. Formal investigations into former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan also continue after he was removed in July.