Key facts
- ICC member states removed chief prosecutor Karim Khan over misconduct claims.
- This is the first time a chief prosecutor has been removed from the ICC.
- A judicial panel found no evidence of misconduct by Khan.
- The decision follows allegations of a sexual relationship with a complainant.
- The future of the ICC's investigation into Palestine is now uncertain.
International Criminal Court (ICC) member states have removed chief prosecutor Karim Khan, marking the first such dismissal in the court's history. The decision came after allegations of misconduct, though a panel of senior international judges found no evidence of such. Khan had previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Benny Gantz.
The removal follows an 18-month campaign that included media efforts and private warnings from governments. David Cameron, then UK Foreign Secretary, reportedly threatened to defund the ICC if warrants were issued. Republican senators also issued warnings to Khan. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, claimed Khan's actions were a cover for his own alleged sexual misdemeanors, a claim Khan's investigation into the warrants predated.
Former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda recounted pressure from Israel's former Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, to halt investigations into Palestine. The campaign against Khan involved alleged intimidation tactics by Israel, including sending a Mossad team to The Hague. Netanyahu himself claimed other women were preparing to testify against Khan.
Despite the OIOS finding no misconduct and a judicial panel agreeing, the Assembly of State Parties' Bureau overruled these findings. The bureau based its decision on an allegation of a sexual relationship with a complainant, a charge that had not been previously put to Khan. The voting process was also reportedly amended to facilitate his dismissal.
Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly traveling to the US to meet President Donald Trump, despite the existing ICC arrest warrants.