ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Removed Amid Controversy Over Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu

The member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague voted on Friday to remove Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor, who had issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The vote, held at the United Nations headquarters, saw 82 countries in favor, 13 against, and 15 abstentions, surpassing the required majority of 63 for dismissal. Despite Khan's removal, the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant remain valid.

Khan faced allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies, with his legal team asserting no improper sexual contact occurred and criticizing the legal process against him. This marks the first time an ICC chief prosecutor has been dismissed. The ICC presidency recommended his removal following an internal investigation that found "serious misconduct." Khan, 56, is succeeded in an acting capacity by his deputy, Nazhat Khan from Fiji, who opposes canceling the arrest warrants against the Israeli officials and is reportedly advancing additional warrants against other Israeli figures.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, condemned Khan's actions, accusing him of using Israel as a "human shield" to deflect from his personal scandal and asserting that the world rejected this cynicism. The ICC faces heightened scrutiny amid intensified US opposition, with the Trump administration recently launching a diplomatic campaign to curtail the court's authority, citing threats to US sovereignty. Legal experts warn that the Khan affair severely damages the ICC's credibility during a period of unprecedented pressure, with Mark Ellis, CEO of the International Bar Association, describing the court's situation as fragile and the scandal as central to its trust crisis.