THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing unprecedented challenges as U.S. sanctions on its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, have brought much of the tribunal's work to a standstill [1][2][3]. The sanctions, imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2025, have had far-reaching consequences for the court's operations and its pursuit of international justice [4][5].

According to interviews with current and former ICC officials, international lawyers, and human rights advocates, the sanctions have resulted in severe operational difficulties for the court [1][2][3]. Chief Prosecutor Khan has lost access to his email and his bank accounts have been frozen [1][2][3]. American staffers at the Hague-based court have been warned that they risk arrest if they travel to the United States [1][2][3].

The impact extends beyond the court's internal operations. Some non-governmental organizations have ceased collaboration with the ICC, with leaders of one organization reportedly not even responding to emails from court officials [1][2][3]. Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, warned that the sanctions will 'prevent victims from getting access to justice' [1][2][3][4][5].

The sanctions were imposed after an ICC panel of judges issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant [1][2][3]. The judges found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant may have committed war crimes by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas [4].

This move by the Trump administration marks a significant escalation in its opposition to the ICC's activities. The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, has long been critical of the court's potential investigations into U.S. military actions abroad [6][7].

The international community now faces a complex dilemma as the work of this key institution of international justice is effectively paralyzed. The situation raises questions about the balance between national sovereignty and international accountability, and the role of powerful nations in shaping global justice mechanisms [6][7].

As the stalemate continues, victims of international crimes may find their path to justice increasingly obstructed, potentially undermining the global fight against impunity for serious crimes [1][2][3][4][5].