Trump to impose sanctions on ICC prosecutor – Reuters
According to reports, Washington has placed ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on a blacklist following his initiation of a war crimes investigation into Netanyahu. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The United States has reportedly blacklisted International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan as a response to a war crimes investigation, according to a Reuters report on Friday that cites sources familiar with the situation.
Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, economic and travel sanctions are imposed on ICC officials probing alleged war crimes committed by US citizens and allies, including Israel. This order allows for the freezing of assets and prevents entry into the US for the targeted individuals and their immediate family members. Furthermore, it directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to collaborate with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to compile a report within 60 days identifying individuals for sanctions.
“Khan, who is British, was named on Friday in an annex – not yet made public,” a senior ICC official and another confidential source told Reuters.
Elected as ICC prosecutor in 2021, Khan previously led the UN Investigative Team for Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq and has extensive experience in international tribunals, as well as representing victims of human rights violations in various regions of Africa and Asia.
Under a UN-Washington agreement, Khan is expected to regularly travel to the US to update the UN Security Council on cases brought before the court in The Hague. The Security Council has referred cases related to Libya and the Darfur region of Sudan to the ICC. Most recently, he briefed the Council in New York last week regarding the situation in Sudan.
“We trust that any restrictions taken against individuals would be implemented consistently with the host country’s obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement,” stated deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq on Friday.
Established in 2002, the ICC has the authority to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member states or when cases are referred by the UN Security Council.
The US maintains that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the US and Israel, as neither has signed the Rome Statute. Efforts to investigate alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan in 2020 triggered sanctions against then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
This development coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he expressed support for the US sanctions against the ICC. Khan had previously issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant related to “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” in Gaza.
The ICC has condemned the US sanctions and affirmed its commitment to delivering justice for victims of atrocities. “International criminal law is an essential element to fighting impunity, which is unfortunately widespread,” the spokesman remarked. “The International Criminal Court is its essential element, and it must be allowed to work in full independence.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, economic and travel sanctions are imposed on ICC officials probing alleged war crimes committed by US citizens and allies, including Israel. This order allows for the freezing of assets and prevents entry into the US for the targeted individuals and their immediate family members. Furthermore, it directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to collaborate with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to compile a report within 60 days identifying individuals for sanctions.
“Khan, who is British, was named on Friday in an annex – not yet made public,” a senior ICC official and another confidential source told Reuters.
Elected as ICC prosecutor in 2021, Khan previously led the UN Investigative Team for Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq and has extensive experience in international tribunals, as well as representing victims of human rights violations in various regions of Africa and Asia.
Under a UN-Washington agreement, Khan is expected to regularly travel to the US to update the UN Security Council on cases brought before the court in The Hague. The Security Council has referred cases related to Libya and the Darfur region of Sudan to the ICC. Most recently, he briefed the Council in New York last week regarding the situation in Sudan.
“We trust that any restrictions taken against individuals would be implemented consistently with the host country’s obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement,” stated deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq on Friday.
Established in 2002, the ICC has the authority to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member states or when cases are referred by the UN Security Council.
The US maintains that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the US and Israel, as neither has signed the Rome Statute. Efforts to investigate alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan in 2020 triggered sanctions against then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
This development coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he expressed support for the US sanctions against the ICC. Khan had previously issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant related to “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” in Gaza.
The ICC has condemned the US sanctions and affirmed its commitment to delivering justice for victims of atrocities. “International criminal law is an essential element to fighting impunity, which is unfortunately widespread,” the spokesman remarked. “The International Criminal Court is its essential element, and it must be allowed to work in full independence.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
