Wanted to Arrest Netanyahu – Accused of Sexual Assault

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended from his right to practice as a lawyer in England and Wales while facing a comprehensive investigation into alleged sexual assaults and harassment. The decision was made by the UK’s regulatory authority, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), and comes just weeks after Khan was also suspended from his duties at the ICC.

The allegations against Khan were first made in 2024 by a female colleague at the ICC headquarters in The Hague. According to reports, the now 56-year-old prosecutor subjected the woman to unwanted sexual advances and acts described as coercive and non-consensual over an extended period.

Khan himself denies all accusations.

Earlier in June, the ICC’s governing body decided to suspend Khan from his position while disciplinary procedures are ongoing. The court’s member states are expected to decide on July 24 whether he will be permanently removed from the post of Chief Prosecutor. In the meantime, the prosecutor’s office is being led by his deputy.

Khan and his legal representatives claim that the process is politically motivated. They assert that previous investigations could not determine any misconduct and that due process has not been upheld.

Meanwhile, several media outlets have reported that a UN-related investigation found information deemed sufficiently serious to warrant consideration of disciplinary actions.

Wanted to Arrest Putin and Netanyahu

Karim Khan is internationally best known for leading several of the ICC’s most high-profile investigations. He was behind the arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and drew widespread attention in spring 2024 when he requested that the ICC issue arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Khan claimed there were reasonable grounds to suspect them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza—something Israel vehemently opposed.

The case against Khan has become a sensitive issue for the ICC, which is already under intense political pressure from multiple fronts. Critics argue that the accusations risk damaging the court’s reputation, while others warn that geopolitical interests could influence how the matter is handled.