Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor who issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing disciplinary proceedings over allegations of sexual misconduct with a female lawyer in his office.
Khan has temporarily stepped aside pending the outcome of the inquiry, according to Sky News. He has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
A report by United Nations investigators reportedly found a “factual basis” for the allegations, stating that witness testimonies “lend support to her claims.” However, a separate review conducted by three judges concluded that the evidence did not meet the threshold required to establish misconduct “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
A core group of ICC member states voted on Wednesday to proceed with disciplinary measures, with 15 countries in favour, two abstaining and four opposing. African countries reportedly pushed for the matter to be dropped, while several Western nations supported continuation.
Officials within the prosecutor’s office have also expressed opposition to Khan remaining in his role. The ICC has declined to issue an official statement, citing the ongoing nature of the proceedings.
The development comes amid intense global scrutiny of the court following the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in 2025 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel, which is not an ICC member, has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and strongly denied the allegations.
