The US has imposed sanctions on Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, following the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli political figures.
In response to ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on alleged war crimes in Gaza, the United States has levied sanctions against him.
These sanctions, implemented via an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on February 6th, include a freeze on Khan’s US assets and a travel ban affecting him and his family. The order contends that the ICC’s actions create a dangerous precedent, potentially subjecting Americans to harassment, abuse, and arrest.
The executive order states that the ICC has improperly asserted jurisdiction and initiated preliminary investigations into US and allied personnel, including those from Israel, further abusing its power through baseless arrest warrants.
The US Department of Treasury confirmed Khan’s inclusion in the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list, barring Americans from engaging in business with him.
The ICC has denounced the sanctions, reiterating its commitment to justice and support for victims of atrocities.
The United Nations also criticized the US action, highlighting the ICC’s crucial role as a pillar of international justice.
The US’s non-recognition of the ICC’s authority is longstanding. In 2020, the Trump administration sanctioned Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, over investigations into US actions in Afghanistan; these sanctions were later rescinded by President Biden. However, the US commended Khan for issuing arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova concerning the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children in 2023. Russia dismissed these warrants as invalid.
The recent sanctions have drawn widespread international condemnation. A joint statement from 79 ICC member states cautioned that such actions could undermine the international rule of law.
Khan, elected ICC prosecutor in 2021, previously headed the UN Investigative Team for Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq and has a history of working in various international tribunals.
A customary agreement between the UN and the US allows ICC officials to travel to New York for briefings. The impact of the sanctions on Khan’s ability to fulfill these obligations remains unclear.
Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose sanctions, including visa cancellations and financial restrictions, on any ICC officials prosecuting US allies.
This action follows less than two weeks after the Israeli prime minister’s visit to Washington, during which he praised the US’s stance against the court. Khan had previously accused Netanyahu and Gallant of the war crime of intentionally targeting civilians in Gaza.