Eighty-two of the 125 ICC member states voted to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who had issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Thirteen countries opposed and 12 abstained, according to Reuters. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon welcomed the decision, calling it a rejection of what he termed Khan's political witch hunt against Israel.
The ICC's 125 member states voted Friday evening to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan, with 82 in favor, 13 against, and 12 abstentions, according to Reuters citing diplomatic sources. Initial reports from Abu Ali Express had placed the abstention count at 15. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon welcomed the decision, calling it a rejection of what he termed Khan's 'political witch hunt' against Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also responded to reports that Qatar had bribed Khan, labeling the ICC a 'corrupt court.'
The vote followed a months-long misconduct probe. As The Zioneer reported on June 9, the ICC's executive bureau suspended Khan, ruling that he committed serious misconduct after an 18-month investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct. On June 18, The Zioneer reported that the ICC scheduled a vote on his removal. By June 24, Reuters reported that the court's executive board had recommended Khan's removal, citing findings of non-consensual sexual contact with a staff member.
Khan had drawn Israeli ire after issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with the Gaza war. The dismissal is final and cannot be appealed.
Discrepancies remain in the reported abstention numbers between initial and later sources, and the Qatari bribery allegations referenced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry have not been independently corroborated.
6 developments
- DevelopingIsrael's UN envoy Danon: ICC prosecutor suspension is a chance to quash arrest warrant for Netanyahu
- StrongSa'ar demands ICC arrest warrants be canceled, calls Khan 'corrupt prosecutor'
- StrongReuters: ICC executive board recommends removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan after misconduct probe
- ConfirmedICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended after sexual misconduct inquiry
Source and signal
- Open-source intake