The US has reportedly added Karim Khan to its sanctions list in response to a war crimes investigation.
According to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim Khan, is the first individual sanctioned by the United States under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump targeting the court. This order allows for economic and travel sanctions against ICC officials probing alleged war crimes committed by US citizens and allies like Israel. These sanctions can include asset freezes and bans on entry to the US for those affected and their immediate families. The order also reportedly tasked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in consultation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to provide a list of individuals for sanctions within 60 days.
“Khan, a British national, was listed Friday in an annex – not yet publicly released,” a senior ICC official and another source anonymously told Reuters.
Khan, elected ICC prosecutor in 2021, previously led the UN Investigative Team probing Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq. He has extensive experience in international tribunals, representing victims of human rights abuses in Africa and Asia.
Under a UN-US agreement, Khan should be able to regularly travel to the US for briefings to the UN Security Council on cases referred to the court in The Hague. The Security Council has referred investigations on Libya and Sudan’s Darfur region to the ICC. He was recently in New York last week for a briefing on Sudan.
“We trust that any restrictions imposed on individuals will comply with the host country’s obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq stated on Friday.
Established in 2002, the International Criminal Court prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member states or when cases are referred by the UN Security Council.
The US, however, contends the court lacks jurisdiction over the US or Israel, neither of which is a signatory to the Rome Statute. Its attempt to investigate alleged American war crimes in Afghanistan in 2020 led to US sanctions against then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
This action coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he praised the US sanctions against the court. Khan had previously issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” in Gaza.
The ICC has condemned the US sanctions and vowed to continue seeking justice for victims of atrocities.
“International criminal law is vital in combating impunity, which is unfortunately widespread,” the spokesman said. “The International Criminal Court is crucial to this, and it must be allowed to function fully independently.”