Removal of Karim Khan: On July 24, 2026, ICC member states voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following sexual misconduct and abuse-of-authority allegations, despite a panel of expert judges finding that the evidence did not establish misconduct under the relevant legal framework.

Political Context and Pressure: The process is portrayed as heavily influenced by political factors, with reports of Israeli diplomatic efforts to secure Khan’s dismissal and ongoing U.S. sanctions and campaigns (including under the Trump administration) aimed at undermining the ICC, particularly over its warrants against Israeli officials.

Damage to Institutional Integrity: Critics argue the decision prioritizes political considerations over proper judicial process, weakening the ICC’s credibility and its ability to pursue cases involving major powers or their allies, while the existing arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant remain in force.

Could it be put down to a measure of confidence on his part?  On this occasion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had, in the Wing of Zion, been less cautious in making a journey to Washington through European airspace.  In September 2025, French airspace was avoided during a flight to New York.  Most European states, with occasional hiccups of complaint, remain signatories of the Rome Statute, that document founding the International Criminal Court (ICC).  The Israeli PM, along with his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, have extant arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in Gaza. 

This confidence might have been instilled by the removal of Karim Khan as the Court’s chief prosecutor, who faced allegations of sexual misconduct made by a member of his staff.  The result arose from a majority vote of the Court’s member states – 82 in favour of removal, 13 against, with 15 abstentions.  The decision was reached on July 24 at an emergency session at the UN headquarters in New York.  

Khan has certainly had his problems at an organisation that even optimists can describe as dysfunctional.  The Independent Expert Review in 2020 made numerous findings, including “low morale in Chambers.”  This included the absence of opportunities for promotion, a perceived “degree of arbitrariness or lack of consistency in management decisions” and “instances of harassment and bullying by some Judges, which have not been sufficiently tackled”.  The Office of the Prosecutor was also governed by an “unclear” regulatory framework and a working environment marked by “personality-driven working methods”, with a rampant perception about “a lack of accountability”, notably at the higher levels.

Khan’s own promised efforts to reform his office made........

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