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ICC members to vote on prosecutor Karim Khan's dismissal over sexual misconduct allegations

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • ICC member states will vote Friday on dismissing Prosecutor Karim Khan over alleged sexual misconduct.
  • Khan denies wrongdoing, while his lawyers call the decision unlawful and unfair.
  • The vote occurs amid US criticism of the court and follows Khan's pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli officials.

International Criminal Court member states are poised to vote on Friday on the dismissal of chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan, 56, has denied all wrongdoing, with his legal team denouncing the decision to hold a vote as unlawful, procedurally unfair, and lacking evidence.

France said on Thursday it would vote in favor of the removal of Khan.

— FranceFrance's stated voting intention ahead of the ICC prosecutor's dismissal vote.

The vote takes place against a backdrop of renewed criticism from the United States, which views the war crimes court as a threat to its sovereignty. Supporters of Khan see the potential dismissal as a consequence of political pressure, particularly after he sought arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel, not a member of the court, denies war crimes and has dismissed the warrants as baseless.

Even if Khan retains his position, his authority would be diminished, providing critics with further ammunition against the court, established in 2002 to prosecute genocide and crimes against humanity. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently described individuals at the ICC as "lunatics and crazies," asserting that no American officials would ever face trial there. The US has previously sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan, over warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, as well as a past probe into US troops in Afghanistan.

The Netherlands, which hosts the court in The Hague, has also said it would support his dismissal.

— The NetherlandsThe Netherlands' stated voting intention ahead of the ICC prosecutor's dismissal vote.

Officials from the court's governing body stated that Khan should be dismissed due to serious misconduct, including an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member. A dismissal requires an absolute majority of at least 63 out of the 125 member states in a secret ballot. Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 and suspended since June, awaiting the investigation's outcome. France and the Netherlands have announced their support for his removal.

there were "lunatics and crazies involved in the ICC" and there was no way any US political or military officials would ever go on trial at the court

— Marco RubioUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio's criticism of the ICC during a visit to the Philippines.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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