ICC Deputy: Staff Banking Fails Before US Sanctions Deadline

Nazhat Shameem Khan, the acting deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, confirmed that staff members are encountering banking difficulties well before the new US sanctions officially take effect. The six-month grace period for these measures begins in October 2026, yet Khan stated that some employees are already experiencing financial hurdles.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on 9 October, labeling the ICC a "rogue court." He declared that the court had six months to negotiate a solution to address Washington's concerns. Rubio issued the ultimatum: "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC."

Khan explained that the premature strain stems from banks being "over-complying" to minimize risk while the scope of the sanctions remains unclear. "These are sanctions imposed on the institutions and, in principle, our individual members should not be impacted directly," she said. "But again, what I am hearing from members of our staff is that some of them are experiencing difficulties in banking."

The court is actively working to insulate itself from the hostile US administration. Officials are switching software from Microsoft to European alternatives and negotiating with service providers regarding banking and health insurance. Khan asserted that all investigations continue without a reduction in capability or output based on the sanctions.

Despite the financial friction, Khan reported that the investigation into the Gaza war has made "significant progress" since the November 2024 arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. She noted that the lack of new public charges is due to a court ruling requiring secrecy until judges approve disclosure. "Even if we reach a stage of the investigations where it might be imminent, we may not discuss it publicly," she said.

Khan, who was targeted by US sanctions in February 2025, described life without a credit card as inconvenient but manageable. She contrasted her personal inconvenience with the plight of victims in refugee camps, stating that for them, "sanctions and credit cards are completely irrelevant." The court's registrar is currently negotiating with the EU to block the sanctions or protect the institution.

The European Parliament awarded the ICC its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought on Thursday. Khan called the backing a "very important message" for the staff. The award coincides with the court unsealing four arrest warrants against Taliban members for gender persecution in Afghanistan, a case Khan said remains a priority for the office.