Key facts
- ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was removed by member states over misconduct allegations.
- 82 out of 125 member states voted for Khan's dismissal.
- This is the first time a sitting ICC prosecutor has been removed.
- Khan denies misconduct and plans to challenge the decision.
- Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders to be dropped.
- The Palestine investigation and arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant remain in force.
International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed from his post by member states over misconduct allegations, with 82 of the court's 125 members supporting his dismissal in a secret ballot at the United Nations in New York. This marks the first time in the ICC's 24-year history that a sitting prosecutor has been removed, concluding an 18-month disciplinary process that has been described as politicised by Palestinian rights groups and others. Khan denies any wrongdoing.
The vote has raised significant questions regarding the future of the ICC's Palestine investigation and the potential impact on arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant during Khan's tenure. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed Khan's removal, calling it 'long-delayed' and urging the court to immediately drop the arrest warrants.
Khan's removal is effective immediately, and he is no longer associated with any ICC cases. His lawyers have stated he will challenge the decision through available legal mechanisms, potentially at the International Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal. Despite Khan's departure, the ICC's office of the prosecutor has stated its work will continue without interruption. The arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant remain in force, as only ICC judges can withdraw them. Israel has been pursuing legal challenges to have these warrants dismissed, including arguments about the court's jurisdiction over its nationals.