War crimes prosecutor is first target of Trump's sanctions
What's the story
Prosecutor Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been sanctioned by US President Donald Trump.
The White House confirmed that the punitive measures, including travel and economic restrictions, were taken against Khan for his investigations of US citizens and allies.
Khan's US assets have been frozen, and he and his family have been barred from entering the United States due to the sanctions.
Institutional support
ICC's response to sanctions against prosecutor Khan
In response to the sanctions, the ICC has condemned it and promised its full support to its staff members.
The court reiterated its commitment to continue delivering justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities around the world.
Last week, Trump signed an order imposing financial and visa sanctions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations of US citizens or allies.
Legal action
ICC's arrest warrants against Israeli officials
The ICC had last year issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas commander over war crimes in Gaza.
Trump called the ICC's actions "illegitimate and baseless actions" and an abuse of power after his recent meeting with Netanyahu.
A White House memo shared on Thursday accused the ICC of creating a "shameful moral equivalency" between Hamas and Israel by issuing the warrants simultaneously.
Court jurisdiction
ICC's mandate and UN's stance on sanctions
Established in 2002, the ICC is required to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. It works within its member states or when the UN Security Council refers cases to it.
An existing agreement allows Khan to visit New York for briefing the UN Security Council on referred cases.
The United Nations has stressed that any restrictions should be in accordance with obligations under the UN Headquarters agreement.