Nazhat Shameem Khan says ICC staff feel banking strain as US sanctions approach

Nazhat Shameem Khan, the deputy prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, stated that staff members are already experiencing banking difficulties due to new US sanctions. The measures were announced on October 9 by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described the court as a rogue institution. Rubio issued a six-month grace period for the court to negotiate a solution, though specific requirements from Washington remain undefined.

Khan is currently co-running the prosecutor's office while a new chief prosecutor is sought. She reported that investigations, including the probe into the Gaza war, have made significant progress since November 2024. That is when arrest warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. No new Gaza-related charges have been announced since late 2024. Khan explained that this silence is procedural. The court ruled earlier this year that all charges and warrant applications must remain secret until judges approve public disclosure.

Even if investigations reach an imminent stage, the court may not discuss them publicly, Khan said. She assured that substantial progress is occurring in the Gaza situation and other cases despite the lack of public announcements. The banking issues arise because financial institutions are over-complying to minimize risk. This is happening even though the sanctions are not due to take effect until six months after their announcement.

The sanctions are imposed on the institution rather than individual members in principle, Khan noted. However, she acknowledged hearing from staff about direct difficulties in banking. The court is working to insulate itself from the hostile administration in Washington. It is switching its software from Microsoft to European alternatives and negotiating with service providers over banking and health insurance arrangements.

Khan stated that no decisions have been made to reduce capability or output based on the sanctions. All investigations across all situations continue. She acknowledged that it is impossible to anticipate the full impact once the measures officially take effect. Khan was among 13 ICC staff targeted by US sanctions in February 2025. She described life without a credit card as inconvenient, particularly regarding travel.

She added that her personal inconvenience is put into perspective by visits to refugee camps and sites of mass atrocities. The court is not only dealing with external sanctions. Formal investigations began in late November 2024 into allegations of sexual harassment against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The British jurist, who is not related to the deputy prosecutor, denied the charges. He was removed in July of this year following a vote by member states.

Secretary of State Rubio claimed this month that globalist experts wanted the ICC to prosecute US citizens. Khan said it was unclear what this reference meant, noting that the court has not brought any Americans before it. If the reference is to Afghanistan, the priority there is offences committed against women and girls by the Taliban and the Islamic State Khorasan. This month, the court's pretrial chamber unsealed four arrest warrants against Taliban members on charges of gender persecution.

The ICC registrar is negotiating with the European Union to block the sanctions or protect the court in other ways. On Thursday, the European Parliament awarded its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought to the court and its officials. Khan called this backing a very important message for the staff. She said the attention on the court reflects its relevance as an avenue of justice for victims who want to cut past politics.