ICC Removes Prosecutor Behind Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Over Serious Misconduct

Member states of the International Criminal Court voted Friday to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan after finding that he committed “serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty.” Khan was the prosecutor who sought arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

The decision marked the first removal of a sitting chief prosecutor in the court’s history. Eighty-two member states supported his dismissal, 13 opposed it and 11 abstained.

“The assembly decided by a majority of 82 states parties that the elected official, prosecutor, Karim Khan, committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty,” the ICC’s governing body said.

Khan’s removal does not cancel the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. The warrants were issued by ICC judges and remain active unless the court formally withdraws them. Khan’s two deputies will continue running the prosecutor’s office while member states begin the process of choosing a permanent replacement.

The disciplinary case concerned allegations of coercive and non-consensual sexual conduct involving a junior female lawyer who worked under Khan. Reports also said he tried to discourage her from pursuing a formal complaint. Khan denied any sexual relationship and denied wrongdoing.

His attorney, Tayab Ali, said Khan was denied a fair process.

“Khan’s removal was determined by a process in which he was never given a fair opportunity to be heard,” Ali said.

Khan’s legal team said he plans to challenge the decision through every available legal mechanism. The Rome Statute does not provide a conventional appeal against removal, although he may seek other legal or employment-related remedies.

Khan was also unable to enter the United States for the session because of American sanctions imposed over his pursuit of cases involving Israeli officials. His lawyers said he was not given a proper opportunity to address the member states directly.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the decision and called for the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant to be revoked.

“The long-delayed removal of Karim Khan from the ICC for serious misconduct has exposed the moral bankruptcy of a corrupt prosecutor who rushed to file scandalous arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar accused Khan of moving against Israel to divert attention from the allegations against him. The disciplinary investigation, however, reportedly found no evidence that Israel or another outside actor manipulated the complainant. The woman also said her complaint concerned her own allegations and was not politically motivated.

The Trump administration also welcomed Khan’s removal but said its opposition to the court would continue.

“It is good that he is gone, but he is only one small cog in this irredeemably corrupt institution,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

Washington has sanctioned Khan and other ICC officials over cases involving Israel and Americans and has said it intends to continue its campaign against the institution.

Palestinian representative Ammar Hijazi said the disciplinary vote should not be interpreted as a decision on the court’s Israel cases.

“The vote by the Assembly of States Parties to remove the prosecutor was not a political proxy vote on any situation before the ICC,” Hijazi said.

Khan’s deputies will remain in charge while the court begins selecting his successor, a process expected to continue into 2027. The warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant remain in force unless ICC judges decide otherwise.