The U.S. has sanctioned nine International Criminal Court staffers — including six judges and Prosecutor Karim Khan — after the court pursued probes touching U.S. and Israeli nationals. The measures have revoked visas, closed bank accounts and prompted companies to cut services, producing cascading disruptions in daily life. ICC officials warn the sanctions are straining investigations and operations, but those targeted insist they will continue their work despite the restrictions.
Cut Off From Banks, Travel and Alexa: Sanctioned ICC Officials Vow to Carry On
An exterior view of the International Criminal Court, ICC, where Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, a leader of the Sudanese Janjaweed militia, will hear the court's verdict, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
THE HAGUE — Judges and prosecutors at the International Criminal Court say they are continuing their work despite U.S. financial and travel restrictions that have left several staffers effectively cut off from basic services.
What Happened
Nine court officials — including six judges and the ICC's chief prosecutor — were sanctioned by the U.S. administration after the court moved ahead with investigations touching on U.S. and Israeli nationals, countries that are not members of the ICC. The measures include visa revocations and actions that have led banks and some technology companies to suspend services to the targeted individuals.
How The Sanctions Work
U.S. sanctions expose businesses and individuals to penalties if they provide “financial, material, or technological support” to listed persons. Because companies face large fines and legal risk for noncompliance, many opt to sever ties quickly, sometimes in broad or unpredictable ways.
Everyday Consequences
The effects have ranged from the administrative to the personal. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan — a British national — reportedly had bank accounts closed and his U.S. visa revoked, and his ICC email account was disabled. Canadian Judge Kimberly Prost said her credit cards stopped working and that her Amazon Alexa stopped responding. Prost also found a recently purchased e-book vanished from her device.
“Your whole world is restricted,” Judge Prost told reporters, describing a cascade of small annoyances that add up to real hardship.
Impact On The Court
Officials warn the sanctions are straining the ICC’s capacity at a moment when it faces growing demands on resources and internal leadership challenges. Staff fear broader measures could target the institution itself, potentially disrupting payroll, support for protected witnesses and other core functions. The ICC has no police force and depends on member states to enforce arrest warrants, limiting how it can act without international cooperation.
Personal And Family Effects
Sanctioned staff say the measures also affect their families: travel bans block attendance at conferences and other professional activities, and routine financial transactions can become fraught with uncertainty. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan described the constant doubt when a credit card fails — whether it is a technical glitch or the result of sanctions.
Responses And Outlook
The U.S. administration justified the measures as protecting American sovereignty and shielding U.S. and allied persons from what it calls the ICC’s unjust jurisdiction. Those targeted say they remain undeterred. Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, a Peruvian judge on the list, said the sanctions would not alter her judicial work: “In my country, I prosecuted terrorists and drug lords. I will continue my work.”
There are few clear paths to having the sanctions lifted quickly; sanctions applied during a prior U.S. administration were reversed only after a change in the U.S. presidency. Meanwhile, the situation highlights the tension between national powers and international justice institutions and raises questions about how global accountability mechanisms function when powerful nonmember states push back.
