The International Criminal Court dismissed chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Friday, reportedly due to allegations of misconduct.
The International Criminal Court dismissed chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Friday, July 24, in a vote by member states that concluded an 18-month internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Eighty-two of the 125 member states voted to remove Khan, with 13 opposed and 12 abstaining, according to reports from Reuters and Israeli media as The Zioneer reported on Friday evening.
The dismissal follows a series of developments The Zioneer has tracked since June. On June 9, the ICC's executive bureau suspended Khan after an 18-month investigation found serious misconduct. The executive board of the court's oversight body subsequently recommended his removal on June 24, citing non-consensual sexual contact with a staff member. The vote by member states on Friday confirmed the dismissal.
Khan rejected the decision on Saturday, vowing to appeal using all legal means and claiming the move was politically motivated, according to N12. His lawyers echoed that claim. The arrest warrants Khan had issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remain in effect, but Israel can petition the court to cancel them, as Channel 12 reported. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called for the warrants to be canceled, labeling Khan a 'corrupt prosecutor,' as The Zioneer reported on Friday.
Legal challenges to the dismissal are expected to continue. An unverified online claim suggested Khan's successor would be a 'more extreme Muslim woman' — a claim that has not been independently confirmed. The ICC has not announced a replacement.
8 developments
- ConfirmedICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended after sexual misconduct inquiry
- StrongReuters: ICC executive board recommends removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan after misconduct probe
- StrongICC to vote next month on removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan
- DevelopingUK solicitors' watchdog suspends ICC prosecutor Karim Khan pending sexual assault probe
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