- The Assembly of States Parties voted to remove ICC prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations, with his legal team calling the move “political”.
- 13 member states voted against removal, and 11 abstained in the secret ballot.
- A judicial panel had “unanimously” determined that UN findings did not establish misconduct, yet Khan was removed despite this.
- Khan’s 2024 decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over Gaza war crimes sparked backlash, with Josep Borrell calling the case part of a “larger offensive against the ICC”.
- Khan’s dismissal triggers an election process for a new prosecutor, but does not affect the 2024 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
- An ICC governing body report found no evidence that the complainant was manipulated by third parties, including intelligence agencies.
- A human rights representative praised the complainant's courage, and Khan’s dismissal comes amid US sanctions on ICC officials.
- Israeli officials, including ambassador Yechiel Leiter, claimed the warrants were issued to “divert attention from his sex crimes” and called the ICC a “kangaroo court”.
- The Palestinian mission decried attempts to link the removal to the Palestine investigation, calling them “highly cynical”.
Karim Khan has been removed from his position as the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor following a vote by member states that concluded he committed serious misconduct related to sexual abuse allegations. The decision, made by 82 of 125 member states, marks a significant moment for the ICC, which has faced increasing scrutiny and political pressures.1
Khan, who has denied all allegations, faced claims of coercive and non-consensual sexual behavior. His legal team criticized the disciplinary process as unfair, asserting that a judicial panel had previously found no evidence of misconduct. Tayab Ali, head of Khan's legal team, stated, “Mr Khan’s removal was determined by a process in which he was never given a fair opportunity to be heard.”
The allegations against Khan first surfaced nearly two years ago, leading to his stepping aside in June after an oversight panel deemed his actions as serious misconduct. His accuser, identified only as Sarah, described incidents of inappropriate touching, which Khan has denied. The ICC's governing body found no evidence supporting claims that the complainant was manipulated by external parties.
Khan's dismissal comes amid broader challenges for the ICC, including sanctions imposed by the Trump administration and accusations of political motivations behind the vote. Critics, including former EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell, suggest that the case against Khan is part of a larger offensive against the ICC. The Palestinian mission to the Hague condemned attempts to link Khan's removal to ongoing investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes.410
Khan's ousting initiates the process for electing a new ICC prosecutor, although a vote is not anticipated until next year. His removal does not affect the arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials for crimes against humanity, which can only be rescinded by ICC judges.
“Thirteen member states voted against Khan's removal in the secret ballot, while 11 abstained. A judicial panel had 'unanimously' determined UN findings did not establish misconduct, but the dismissal triggers a new prosecutor election without affecting the 2024 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.”
The Guardian
