ICC staff feel US sanctions before official deadline

US sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court are causing operational friction for its staff before the official enforcement date arrives. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said thirteen employees have already experienced banking difficulties. The US State Department announced the measures on October 9, 2026, giving the court six months to adjust. The sanctions are scheduled to take effect in April 2027. Khan noted that banks are acting cautiously to limit risk while the scope of the rules remains unclear. She described the financial institutions as over-complying with the new requirements. The deputy prosecutor stated that the sanctions technically apply to the institution, not individual employees. However, she confirmed that staff members are reporting specific problems with their accounts.

Khan, who is co-running the prosecutor's office, said the court is maintaining its workload despite the external pressure. She reported that the investigation into the Gaza war has made progress since arrest warrants were issued in November 2024. The warrants target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. No new charges regarding Gaza have been made public since late 2024. Khan explained that the court ruled earlier this year that all charge applications must remain secret until judges approve their release. She stated that this secrecy can create an appearance of inactivity. "Even if we reach a stage of the investigations where it might be imminent, we may not discuss it publicly," she said. She assured observers that work continues in that situation and others.

The court is taking steps to reduce its dependence on US-based service providers. It is switching its software from Microsoft to European alternatives. Negotiations are underway regarding banking and health insurance providers. Khan said the court has not reduced its capacity or output based on the sanctions. She acknowledged that it is impossible to predict the full impact once the measures become active. Khan was among the thirteen staff members first targeted by US sanctions in February 2025. She described the inconvenience of life without a credit card as notable for travel. She said her experience is contextualized by visits to refugee camps. "We see the faces of our victims for whom sanctions and credit cards are completely irrelevant," she said. "They just want justice."

Other disruptions are affecting the prosecutor's office. Formal investigations into sexual harassment allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan began in late November 2024. Karim Khan denied the charges and was removed from his post in July 2026 following a vote by member states. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed this month that globalist experts wanted the court to prosecute US citizens. Khan said the reference was unclear and noted that no Americans have been brought before the court. She said the priority in Afghanistan is offenses committed by the Taliban and the Islamic State Khorasan against women and vulnerable groups. The court's pretrial chamber unsealed four arrest warrants against Taliban members for gender persecution this month.

The ICC registrar is negotiating with the European Union to block the sanctions or protect the court. On Thursday, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the court and its officials. Khan called the award an important message for the staff. She said the attention reflects the relevance of the court. "This is a court that provides an avenue of justice for victims who have nowhere else to go," she said. "They really want to cut past politics and want their voices to be heard."