The International Criminal Court has taken steps to reduce the impact of possible US sanctions on the institution as a whole, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said in an interview published on September 25.
As of publication, US sanctions target certain ICC officials but have not been imposed across the court as an institution. Reuters has reported that the Trump administration prepared that option and that the pressure is intended in part to challenge arrest warrants issued for Israeli leaders.
How institution wide sanctions could work
According to the reporting, a broad measure could prohibit US citizens and companies from providing the court with funds, goods or services without a special license. Because of the central role of the US financial system and American technology providers, the effects could extend beyond US borders.
Computing services, insurance, payments and payroll are among the areas that could be disrupted if sweeping restrictions were imposed. The ICC says it has prepared in advance but has not publicly detailed all of its contingency measures.
The connection to Israel and the arrest warrants
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The court said it had found reasonable grounds regarding alleged crimes within its jurisdiction. Israel rejects the allegations and disputes the court's jurisdiction over the matter.
The United States is not a member of the ICC and also opposed the warrants for the Israeli officials. The Trump administration has increased pressure on the court, arguing that it threatens US sovereignty and that of allies. The ICC and supporting member states say sanctions instead threaten the independence of international justice.
What is known and what is not
The key point is that court wide sanctions remain, according to the reporting, a measure being prepared rather than a completed and formally announced action. It would be inaccurate to describe the ICC as already subject to a comprehensive institutional sanctions regime.
If a new US order is issued, its legal details will determine the practical impact: who is treated as a prohibited party, which transactions require licenses, whether there is a transition period and what exemptions apply. Until then, the court's preparations are an effort to reduce risk from a scenario that is not yet final.
