ICC Member States to Vote on Historic Ouster of Prosecutor Karim Khan Amid Controversy

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing a major internal crisis as its 125 member states prepare for a secret vote tomorrow at the United Nations headquarters in New York on whether to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. This unprecedented vote follows serious allegations of misconduct against Khan. To remove him, at least 63 countries must support the motion. Currently, 44 states have expressed backing for his dismissal, following a recommendation from the ICC Presidency based on an internal investigation.

Karim Khan, 56, denies all accusations, with his legal team citing procedural flaws in the process. He is reportedly lobbying intensively behind the scenes, particularly through countries like Kenya and Senegal, to rally support and block the removal. This turmoil is severely damaging the ICC's credibility, which is already under intense political pressure. Concurrently, the Trump administration in the U.S. has escalated its campaign against the ICC, seeking to curtail its powers and having imposed sanctions on 11 senior officials.

Legal experts emphasize that the vote is not a criminal trial but an institutional decision on Khan's fitness to lead the sensitive court. Supporters of his removal highlight that Khan has been absent from his duties for over 14 months, suspended by the Law Society of England and Wales, and has lost the organization's trust. Experts also reject any link between the complaints against him and the arrest warrants he issued against senior Israeli officials, clarifying no evidence supports such a connection.

If removed, Khan's deputy and current acting chief, Nazhat Khan from Fiji, is the leading candidate to succeed him. Reports indicate that Nazhat Khan strongly opposes canceling existing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant and is pushing for additional warrants against other Israeli officials. Therefore, removing Karim Khan is unlikely to alter the ICC's stance or ease the Israeli cases.