ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan sacked over sexual misconduct allegations

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been removed from his post following allegations of sexual misconduct. His legal team has dismissed the decision as politically motivated and biased. The ICC has meanwhile clarified that the move will have no impact on the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The decision to oust Khan was taken by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC's member-state body, through an executive vote on Friday (July 24). His lawyers later confirmed the development. The ASP concluded that Khan had committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty".

Khan had been under intense international political pressure since 2024, when he sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The United States and Israel strongly criticised his position, and the Trump administration subsequently imposed sanctions on Khan and several other ICC officials.

Khan's lead lawyer, Tayyab Ali, said in a statement that a panel of ICC judges had unanimously concluded, after reviewing a UN investigation, that no evidence of misconduct or breach of duty was found against Khan . He argued that Khan was removed without being given a proper opportunity to defend himself, under political pressure, and that this would undermine the ICC's independence and impartiality.

Following the departure of the 56-year-old British barrister, deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang will temporarily lead the Office of the Prosecutor . While the process of appointing a new chief prosecutor has begun, a permanent appointment is unlikely before next year.

The ICC has clarified in a statement that Khan's removal does not change the legal status of the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, as only the court's judges have the authority to decide whether to uphold or revoke them.

Following Khan's removal, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, claimed that Khan had issued the warrants against Israeli leaders to divert attention from the sexual misconduct allegations against him . He labelled the ICC a "kangaroo court" and called for its abolition.

The Palestinian mission in The Hague rejected Israel's statements, arguing that attempts were being made to undermine the ICC's credibility by linking Khan's removal to the independent investigation and international judicial process.

Amid all the controversy, the ICC reaffirmed that its work to impartially investigate all crimes under the Rome Statute and ensure justice for victims will continue.

Source: Al Jazeera