ICC Deputy Prosecutor Says Court Making Significant Progress Despite US Sanctions

According to a report by The Guardian, International Criminal Court (ICC) deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan has stated that new US sanctions are beginning to affect staff members, though she insisted the measures have not hindered the court’s ongoing investigations or overall work.

The restrictions were announced this month by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who criticized the court as a rogue institution. Rubio stated that either the ICC would end its threats or the US would end the court, while granting a six-month grace period for negotiations.

Impact of US Sanctions on ICC Staff

While the sanctions target the institution itself rather than individual members directly, some personnel have encountered banking difficulties. Khan noted that financial institutions are currently over-complying to minimize risk amid uncertainty over the ultimate scope of the measures.

To insulate the court from hostile policies originating in Washington, the institution has switched its software from Microsoft to European alternatives. Officials are also actively negotiating with relevant service providers regarding banking and health insurance.

Khan, who was previously targeted individually by US measures in February 2025, remarked on the everyday personal inconveniences involved, such as managing life without a credit card. However, she emphasized that these challenges are secondary to the needs of victims seeking justice.

Progress on Investigations and Warrants

Despite the external political pressures, Khan maintained that all investigations across various situations continue without any reduction in capability or output. She highlighted that the Gaza war investigation and other files have made significant progress since arrest warrants were issued in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Galant.

Addressing why further public announcements regarding the Israel-Palestine file have been scarce, Khan explained that a court ruling earlier this year mandates that all charges and warrant applications be kept secret until judges decide otherwise. Consequently, ongoing investigative work continues behind the scenes.

Khan also addressed concerns regarding US citizens, clarifying that the court has not brought any Americans before it. She pointed out that investigations concerning Afghanistan focus primarily on offenses committed against women, girls, and other vulnerable groups by the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan.

Institutional Support and Resilience

Amid ongoing disruptions—which have included formal investigations and the removal of former chief prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual harassment—the court has sought international backing. The ICC registrar is currently negotiating with the European Union to explore ways of protecting the court and blocking the impact of Washington’s measures.

Demonstrating international solidarity, the European Parliament recently awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought to the court and its officials. Khan described the gesture as an essential message of support for staff members working under intense global attention.

Source: ICC prosecutor says court making ‘significant progress’ despite US sanctions (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-24T11:35:22+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.