ICC Deputy Prosecutor: New US Sanctions Have Not Slowed Court Investigations

Nazhat Shameem Khan, the deputy prosecutor currently co-running the International Criminal Court, announced this week that the institution is making significant progress on its key investigations. She stated that the newly imposed American sanctions have not hindered the court's operational capacity or its output, even as staff members begin to feel the financial strain.

The pressure from Washington escalated on 9 October when Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the ICC a rogue court. He issued a six month deadline for the institution to negotiate a solution, warning that if it did not end its threats, the US would end the court. Khan noted that while the scope of what would satisfy the administration remains unclear, the court is actively working to insulate itself from the hostile measures.

Khan emphasized that the investigation into the Gaza war and other situations has advanced significantly since November 2024. This was the period when arrest warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Galant. She explained that the lack of new public charges since late 2024 is due to a ruling earlier this year requiring all warrant applications to remain secret until judges approve their disclosure. She assured the public that significant progress continues behind the scenes.

Although the sanctions are not officially due to take effect for another six months, Khan reported that some staff are already experiencing banking difficulties. She described banks as over-complying to minimize risk while the full scope of the measures is uncertain. To mitigate these threats, the court is switching its software from Microsoft to European alternatives and negotiating with providers regarding banking and health insurance.

Khan, who was among thirteen ICC staff targeted by US sanctions in February 2025, acknowledged the inconvenience of losing access to credit cards. However, she placed this personal difficulty in perspective by noting that for victims of mass atrocities, sanctions are irrelevant compared to their desire for justice. She also addressed Rubio's recent claim without evidence that globalist experts wanted the court to prosecute US citizens, clarifying that no Americans have been brought before the court. If the reference is to Afghanistan, the priority remains offenses against women and girls by the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan, for whom four arrest warrants were unsealed this month.

The court is not without support. The registrar is currently negotiating with the European Union to block the sanctions or protect the institution. On Thursday, the European Parliament awarded the court its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought. Khan called this backing a vital message for staff, stating that the intense attention reflects the court's relevance as a venue for victims who wish to cut past politics to be heard.

Other disruptions persist beyond the US sanctions. Formal investigations into sexual harassment allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan began in late November 2024. The British jurist, who is no relation to the deputy prosecutor, denied the charges and was removed from his post in July following a vote by member states.