ICC Deputy: Staff Banks Wary as Sanctions Take Effect

New US sanctions against the International Criminal Court are already creating friction for staff, even though the measures are not scheduled to take full effect until six months after their announcement. Nazhat Shameem Khan, the court’s deputy prosecutor, stated that some employees are encountering banking difficulties as institutions attempt to minimize risk.

The United States declared the sanctions on October 9. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, labeled the ICC a "rogue court" and gave it a six-month window to negotiate a solution. Khan, who is co-running the prosecutor's office, said the court has made substantial progress in its investigations, particularly regarding the Gaza war.

Since the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant in November 2024, no new charges related to Gaza have been announced. Khan attributed this silence to a court ruling that requires all warrant applications to remain secret until judges authorize their public release. She noted that the lack of public updates does not indicate a pause in work.

"Even if we reach a stage of the investigations where it might be imminent, we may not discuss it publicly," Khan said. She emphasized that significant progress is occurring in the Gaza situation and other cases, despite the appearance of inactivity to the outside world.

The financial strain stems from banks "over-complying" with the new rules to protect themselves. Khan explained that while the sanctions target the institution, individual staff members are feeling the impact. She described the situation as banks becoming wary of the court's transactions while the scope of the measures remains uncertain.

To reduce its exposure to US systems, the ICC is switching its software from Microsoft to European alternatives. The court is also negotiating with service providers regarding banking and health insurance. Khan affirmed that no decisions have been made to reduce the court's capability or output based on the sanctions.

Khan has previously faced US sanctions, having been targeted in February 2025 alongside 12 other ICC staff members. She described the inconvenience of traveling without a credit card but noted that visits to refugee camps put the financial hurdles into perspective. She stated that for victims, the mechanics of sanctions are irrelevant compared to their desire for justice.

Disruptions are not limited to external pressure. Formal investigations into sexual harassment allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan began in late November 2024. The British jurist was removed from his position in July following a vote by member states. He denied the charges, and it was noted he is not related to the current deputy prosecutor.

Rubio recently claimed without providing evidence that "globalist 'experts' an ocean away" wanted the ICC to prosecute US citizens. Khan responded that no Americans have been brought before the court. She added that if the reference was to Afghanistan, the priority there involves offenses committed by the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan against women and girls.

This month, the court's pretrial chamber unsealed four arrest warrants against Taliban members on charges of gender persecution. The ICC registrar is currently negotiating with the European Union to block the sanctions or protect the court through other means. On Thursday, the European Parliament awarded the court its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought.

Khan called the European Parliament's award an important message for the court's staff. She stated that the high level of attention reflects the court's relevance to victims who seek justice outside of political processes.