ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan removed from office by Assembly of States Parties decision

The Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that Prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed from office. The decision was taken at a special session held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on July 24, 2026.

In the secret ballot conducted under Article 46 of the Rome Statute, an absolute majority was achieved with the support of 82 states parties. The Assembly's decision stated that Khan had committed "serious misconduct and breach of duty."

Karim Khan had come to the fore in May 2024 when he requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Following this development, sexual harassment allegations against Khan became a subject of debate, and Khan voluntarily took leave in May 2025.

HOW DID THE PROCESS PROCEED?

An independent panel of three judges appointed by the ICC had expressed the opinion in an investigation conducted in March 2026 that "no misconduct or breach of duty was detected" regarding Khan. Despite this, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties decided to continue the process.

The Bureau temporarily suspended Khan on June 8, 2026, with an assessment of "gross misconduct." This process was finalized with the vote held at the special session on July 24.

Following the vote, Khan's lawyers reacted to the decision, stating that his rights to defense and accreditation were not recognized. The defense side argued that the process was completed in a manner that was unlawful, procedurally unfair, and unsupported by concrete evidence.

In a statement made by the ICC, it was noted that the management of the Office of the Prosecutor would continue to be carried out by the deputy prosecutors, as it has been since Khan went on leave in May 2025. The court stated that its commitment to ensuring accountability and justice for victims continues.

Karim Khan, who was elected as the ICC Prosecutor in February 2021, took the oath of office on June 16, 2021, to begin his tenure as the court's third prosecutor.

News Source: 12punto