ICC member states dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan

Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. The decision came during a special session of the Assembly of States Parties in New York, where a secret ballot revealed 82 out of 125 member nations supported his removal.

Khan has consistently denied the charges, asserting that the proceedings were unlawful and lacked sufficient evidence. His dismissal follows a months-long disciplinary process initiated after an ICC oversight body found him guilty of gross misconduct in his dealings with a junior colleague. He was temporarily suspended in June.

The case has sparked debate about the court's reputation and independence, particularly amid heightened political pressures on the ICC. The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, has been a vocal opponent of the court's jurisdiction over American and Israeli citizens, even imposing sanctions on several ICC officials.

Karim Khan gained significant international prominence after seeking arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These warrants were related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. During his tenure, the ICC also continued its proceedings against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Crucially, Khan's dismissal does not affect the arrest warrants already issued. The validity of these warrants rests with ICC judges, not the prosecutor's office. Member states will now commence the process of selecting a new chief prosecutor, a procedure that diplomatic sources estimate will not be completed before next year.