US Imposes Sanctions on ICC’s Chief Prosecutor
The US has imposed sanctions on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in response to his decision to file charges against Israeli political leaders. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The United States has taken action against International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan in response to his issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli political figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over accusations of war crimes in Gaza.
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on February 6 has resulted in the freezing of Khan’s US assets and a travel ban preventing him and his family from entering the United States. The order contends that the ICC’s proceedings have “set a dangerous precedent” by exposing Americans to “harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.”
“The ICC has, without a legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations concerning personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including Israel, and has further abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants,” the order states.
The US Department of the Treasury has confirmed Khan's inclusion on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list, which prohibits Americans from engaging in business with him.
The ICC has responded by condemning the sanctions and reiterating its commitment to “justice and hope for millions of innocent victims of atrocities.” Similarly, the United Nations has criticized the US decision, highlighting that the ICC serves as “a fundamental pillar of international justice.”
Historically, the US has not accepted the ICC’s authority. In 2020, the Trump administration also sanctioned Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, over her investigations into US conduct in Afghanistan, although those sanctions were subsequently lifted by President Joe Biden.
Notably, the US praised Khan when he issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023, concerning the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children. Moscow rejected the warrants as “null and void.”
These recent sanctions have prompted international backlash, with a joint statement from 79 ICC member states warning that such actions could “erode the international rule of law.”
Khan, who was elected as the ICC prosecutor in 2021, previously headed the UN Investigative Team for Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq and has experience working with various international tribunals.
Typically, an agreement between the UN and the US facilitates ICC officials’ travel to New York for briefings; however, it remains uncertain how the sanctions will impact Khan’s ability to perform these duties.
Just earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose additional sanctions that would revoke US visas and enforce financial restrictions on any ICC officials pursuing cases against Washington’s “allies.”
This development follows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington, during which he expressed support for the US actions against the ICC. Khan had earlier accused both Netanyahu and Gallant of “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” in Gaza.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on February 6 has resulted in the freezing of Khan’s US assets and a travel ban preventing him and his family from entering the United States. The order contends that the ICC’s proceedings have “set a dangerous precedent” by exposing Americans to “harassment, abuse, and possible arrest.”
“The ICC has, without a legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations concerning personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including Israel, and has further abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants,” the order states.
The US Department of the Treasury has confirmed Khan's inclusion on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list, which prohibits Americans from engaging in business with him.
The ICC has responded by condemning the sanctions and reiterating its commitment to “justice and hope for millions of innocent victims of atrocities.” Similarly, the United Nations has criticized the US decision, highlighting that the ICC serves as “a fundamental pillar of international justice.”
Historically, the US has not accepted the ICC’s authority. In 2020, the Trump administration also sanctioned Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, over her investigations into US conduct in Afghanistan, although those sanctions were subsequently lifted by President Joe Biden.
Notably, the US praised Khan when he issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023, concerning the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children. Moscow rejected the warrants as “null and void.”
These recent sanctions have prompted international backlash, with a joint statement from 79 ICC member states warning that such actions could “erode the international rule of law.”
Khan, who was elected as the ICC prosecutor in 2021, previously headed the UN Investigative Team for Daesh/ISIL crimes in Iraq and has experience working with various international tribunals.
Typically, an agreement between the UN and the US facilitates ICC officials’ travel to New York for briefings; however, it remains uncertain how the sanctions will impact Khan’s ability to perform these duties.
Just earlier this month, the US House of Representatives voted to impose additional sanctions that would revoke US visas and enforce financial restrictions on any ICC officials pursuing cases against Washington’s “allies.”
This development follows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington, during which he expressed support for the US actions against the ICC. Khan had earlier accused both Netanyahu and Gallant of “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” in Gaza.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
