ICC suspends chief prosecutor and refers decision on his dismissal to member states

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing an unprecedented institutional crisis as its executive body decided Monday to suspend chief prosecutor Karim Khan with immediate effect.

The decision, made by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, will transfer the ultimate decision on Khan's future to the court's 125 member states. This move comes after nearly two years of controversy surrounding allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct. The Bureau emphasized that the suspension is not an indication of the final outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.

Khan's suspension is based on a report from the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), evidence gathered during an investigation, the opinion of an independent panel of judicial experts, and submissions from the parties involved. While the OIOS reportedly found indications supporting the accusations, the independent panel concluded that the available evidence did not meet the required legal standard for misconduct.

This divergence in findings has created a deep rift among member states, with some advocating for the case's closure and others arguing that the UN's findings are too serious to dismiss. The controversy unfolds at a particularly sensitive time for the ICC, shortly after Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.