ICC’s Khan Steps Down Amid Sexual Misconduct Probe, Netanyahu Case in Limelight

JERUSALEM—Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s embattled prosecutor, has stepped aside amid a storm of sexual misconduct allegations, the ICC announced Friday. Khan, who denies the claims, will take leave pending an external investigation by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services. The move follows mounting pressure from women’s rights groups, who demanded his exit after accusations surfaced last year.

Khan’s tenure has been a lightning rod. Just weeks before the allegations broke, he sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, accusing them of war crimes. The timing raised eyebrows, with some, like the Wall Street Journal, suggesting Khan’s legal salvo might have been a shield against his personal controversies. His lawyers at Carter-Ruck Solicitors dismiss such claims as “categorically untrue,” insisting the warrants met the ICC’s rigorous legal standards.

The allegations stem from two ICC colleagues who reported Khan’s alleged misconduct in May 2024, shortly before his high-profile warrant requests. The court’s watchdog interviewed the accuser but closed the inquiry after five days when she declined to file a formal complaint. Khan was never questioned, though the watchdog advised him to limit contact with the woman to protect the court’s integrity.

Critics argue the scandal exposes deeper flaws in the ICC. Legal expert Eugene Kontorovich told WTFNewsRoom, “Khan’s ouster isn’t enough. The entire institution—prosecutors, judges—enabled his reckless agenda. It’s a circus without accountability.” Kontorovich and others point to the ICC’s meager track record—only six convictions in 25 years—as evidence of systemic failure.

Khan’s pursuit of Israeli leaders has also drawn fire. U.S. President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on him in February 2025, hampering ICC investigations. Israel, meanwhile, has urged the court to rescind the warrants, arguing they’re baseless. The ICC’s spokesperson, Fadi El-Abdallah, declined to speculate on the warrants’ fate, citing ongoing proceedings.

The drama unfolds against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas, sparked by the group’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 people, including Americans. Khan’s critics, like UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer, argue the ICC’s focus on Israel reeks of political bias. “They’re tossing Khan overboard to save their anti-Israel campaign,” Neuer said. “This was never about justice.”