ICC suspends prosecutor Khan as 125 member states weigh removal

The International Criminal Court suspended chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday after an 18-month investigation found he committed serious misconduct, thrusting the war-crimes tribunal deeper into crisis as it faces US sanctions and questions over arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.

"The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence," Khan's lawyers said in a statement, repeating his denial of any wrongdoing.

The ICC's executive bureau voted by qualified majority to refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties, which will convene a special session of all 125 member states to decide whether to remove Khan from office. A diplomatic source briefed on the decision said the bureau found Khan had non-consensual sexual interactions with a female lawyer in his office. Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025.

The suspension threatens to further undermine the court's credibility after Khan in November 2024 secured arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant — a move that drew US sanctions against the ICC and accusations of political bias. The court is now reportedly considering warrants against additional Israeli officials, even as questions mount over the integrity of the original case.

The allegations against Khan first emerged in late 2024, when a female ICC staffer accused him of coercive and non-consensual sexual behavior over an extended period, including in hotel rooms on work trips, his office, and his home. A UN investigation found a "factual basis" for the claims, though a three-judge panel later concluded the evidence was insufficient to establish the truth "beyond a reasonable doubt."

The WSJ editorial board has called for the court to retract the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, arguing the Khan scandal has "marred beyond saving" the case against Netanyahu. The editorial noted that Khan accelerated his announcement of the warrants on CNN shortly after learning of the allegations against him, contradicting his own investigatory timeline and shocking his staff. An allegation that Qatar offered to "look after" Khan concerning the warrants — denied by both parties — has further tainted the proceedings.

The Trump administration sanctioned four ICC judges in 2025, citing the court's "politicization and abuse of power" after the arrest warrant authorization for Netanyahu. The US is not an ICC signatory, and the court's assertion of jurisdiction over Israeli officials — also not member states — has drawn sharp criticism from Washington.

Khan's removal would require a simple majority in a secret ballot of the 125 member states, with 63 countries needed to support the measure. No date has been set for the special session, but the assembly said it would be convened as soon as possible.

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