ICC Deputy Prosecutor Defends Court's Momentum Amid US Financial Pressure

Tension is rising between The Hague and Washington as the International Criminal Court faces its most direct financial challenge to date. While the US government has declared the judicial body a rogue entity, the court's deputy prosecutor insists that the aggressive posture has not stalled its core work.

The friction began in earnest on October 9. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, announced a new round of sanctions. He characterized the court as a frequent target of the administration and issued a stark warning: either the ICC would cease its threats, or the US would dismantle it. Rubio allowed a six month window for the court to negotiate a solution, though the specific demands of Washington remain undefined.

Nazhat Shameem Khan is currently leading the prosecutor's office in an acting capacity. She reports that major investigations, including the probe into the Gaza conflict, have made significant strides since November 2024. At that time, warrants were issued for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Yoav Galant, his former defense minister. Khan explained that the lack of new public charges since late 2024 is due to a court ruling from earlier this year. This ruling mandates that all warrants and charges remain confidential until judges approve their disclosure.

"Even if we reach a stage of the investigations where it might be imminent, we may not discuss it publicly," Khan stated. "And so while there might be an appearance that nothing is happening, I can assure you that there's significant progress in that particular situation as well as others."

Despite the six month delay before sanctions officially take effect, staff are already feeling the strain. Khan noted that banks are adopting an over compliant stance to mitigate risk. While the measures target institutions rather than individuals, many employees are reporting banking difficulties. In response, the court is switching from Microsoft software to European alternatives and renegotiating contracts for health insurance and financial services to shield itself from Washington's reach.

Khan is personally familiar with the friction. She was among thirteen staff members sanctioned in February 2025. She described the inconvenience of life without a credit card but placed it in perspective by visiting refugee camps. "We see the faces of our victims for whom sanctions and credit cards are completely irrelevant. They just want justice," she said.

Internal challenges persist alongside external pressure. Formal investigations into sexual harassment allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan began in late November 2024. The British jurist denied the charges and was removed from his post in July following a member state vote. Separately, Rubio claimed this month that globalist experts wanted the court to prosecute Americans. Khan countered that no Americans have been brought before the court, pointing to the Afghanistan case where the focus is on Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan leaders. Four arrest warrants for Taliban members on gender persecution charges were unsealed this month.

Diplomatic support is growing in Europe. The ICC registrar is in talks with the EU regarding protective measures. This week, the European Parliament awarded the court its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought. Khan viewed this recognition as a vital signal to staff. "I think that the fact that there is so much attention on us is a reflection of how relevant we are," she added.