ICC Deputy Khan: US Sanctions Slow Banking, Not Gaza Probes

Staff at the International Criminal Court are facing banking hurdles before US sanctions officially take effect, according to Nazhat Shameem Khan. The deputy prosecutor said some employees have encountered payment issues as banks move to minimize risk. She noted that while the measures are not yet fully active, financial friction is already present for individual team members.

The United States announced the sanctions on October 9. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the court a rogue institution and issued an ultimatum. He gave the court six months to negotiate a solution. Rubio stated that the court must end its threats or face closure. The grace period runs until April 2027.

Khan, who is co-running the prosecutor's office, said investigations into the Gaza war have continued since November 2024. That is when arrest warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. She said no new charges have been announced because the court keeps warrant applications secret until judges approve public release. Khan assured reporters that the work is moving forward despite the lack of public updates.

The court is switching from Microsoft software to European alternatives to reduce reliance on US companies. It is also negotiating with service providers regarding banking and health insurance. Khan said the institution has not reduced its output based on the sanctions. She acknowledged that the full impact will be harder to predict once the measures become official.

Khan was previously targeted by US sanctions in February 2025. She described the inconvenience of travel without a credit card. She contrasted that with the needs of victims in refugee camps, saying they want justice rather than financial stability. The deputy prosecutor said the court is providing an avenue for people who have nowhere else to turn.

The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought to the court this month. The ICC registrar is currently negotiating with the European Union about blocking the sanctions. Khan called this support an important message for the staff. She said the attention reflects the relevance of the court to its victims.