ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Reveals Attempts by States to Remove Him Over Israel Arrest Warrants

May 9, 2026

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been on indefinite leave for almost a year pending investigation into misconduct allegations. A panel of judges concluded in March 2025 that there was no evidence of misconduct by Khan. However, a group of disproportionately western and European states voted to disregard the panel and re-investigate. Khan made a formal submission on May 2, 2026 expressing concerns regarding the integrity of the process. David Cameron allegedly threatened the ICC in 2024 over potential arrest warrants for Israeli officials.

Sexual misconduct allegations investigation

▪The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigated sexual misconduct allegations against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan.
▪Ben Swanson, former assistant secretary-general of the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services, stated that neither the OIOS Investigation Report nor the underlying material provide sufficient evidence to support any finding of misconduct to the requisite standard of proof against Karim Khan.
▪A panel of judges appointed by the Assembly of State Parties bureau concluded in March 2025 that there was no evidence of misconduct or breach of duty by Karim Khan.
▪Karim Khan has been on indefinite leave for almost a year pending the outcome of the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.
▪Ben Swanson left his role as assistant secretary-general of the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services in February 2025.

Bureau procedural irregularities

▪The Assembly of State Parties bureau has invited fresh submissions and is revisiting the evidence in the case against Karim Khan.
▪Karim Khan applied for three members of the Assembly of State Parties bureau to be disqualified from the process, accusing them of bias.
▪A group of disproportionately western and European states voted at an Assembly of State Parties bureau meeting to disregard the panel of judges and re-investigate the case against Karim Khan.
▪One of the three Assembly of State Parties bureau members Karim Khan sought to disqualify voluntarily recused themselves.
▪Karim Khan made a formal submission on May 2, 2026 expressing concerns regarding the integrity of the Assembly of State Parties bureau process.
▪The Assembly of State Parties bureau rejected Karim Khan's application to disqualify two of its members on grounds of bias.
▪Paivi Kaukoranta, president of the Assembly of State Parties bureau, confirmed to the media in October 2024 that allegations had been made against Karim Khan.
▪The Assembly of State Parties published a statement on its website in October 2024 confirming that allegations had been made against Karim Khan.

Israel arrest warrants pressure

▪Karim Khan pursued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
▪Karim Khan spoke exclusively to Middle East Eye earlier in the week of May 5, 2026.
▪Former British foreign secretary David Cameron made threats to Karim Khan in connection with his pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
▪US Senator Lindsey Graham made threats to Karim Khan in connection with his pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
▪David Hearst conducted an exclusive interview with Karim Khan for Middle East Eye.

Threats to ICC independence

▪Karim Khan stated that judges and prosecutors who had previously been investigated at the International Criminal Court benefited from all the rights of confidentiality.