International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies. His defence team says the case is politicised and linked to his pursuit of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Key facts
- ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed over sexual misconduct allegations, according to sources.
- Khan denies allegations of an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member.
- He also denies seeking to stop the staff member from pursuing her complaint.
- Khan's defence team says the case is a reaction to his pursuit of an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed over allegations of sexual misconduct, according to sources cited by Al Jazeera and the BBC. The development was reported as a breaking news story on 24 July 2026.
According to the BBC, Khan denies allegations that he engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member. He also denies seeking to stop the staff member from pursuing her complaint.
Khan’s defence team has characterised the case as politicised. According to Al Jazeera, his team claims the case is a reaction to his pursuit of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His defence team further underscored that the prosecutor was removed while many court officials are under US sanctions, according to Al Jazeera.
The reports were attributed to sources, and the full details surrounding the removal and the process behind it were still emerging at the time of publication.
Why it matters
The ICC prosecutor leads investigations and prosecutions into some of the world's most serious crimes, so the removal of the sitting prosecutor raises questions about the court's leadership and independence. The dispute also intersects with high-profile matters, including the pursuit of an arrest warrant against Israel's prime minister.
Frequently asked questions
What is Karim Khan accused of?
According to the BBC, Khan is accused of engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and of seeking to stop her from pursuing her complaint. He denies the allegations.
How has Khan's team responded?
His defence team has described the case as politicised, claiming it is a reaction to his pursuit of an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, and noted that he was removed while many court officials are under US sanctions, according to Al Jazeera.
When was this reported?
The removal was reported as a breaking news story on 24 July 2026 by outlets including Al Jazeera and the BBC.
Timeline
- ICC top prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations
BBC World: Karim Khan denies allegations of engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and seeking to stop her pursuing her complaint.
- ICC prosecutor Khan removed over sexual misconduct allegations: Sources
Al Jazeera: This is a breaking news story.
- ICC prosecutor Khan removed over ‘politicised’ sex abuse claims: Sources
Al Jazeera: Khan's team claim the case is a reaction to his pursuit of an arrest warrant against Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.
- ICC prosecutor Karim Khan removed over ‘political’ sex abuse claims
Al Jazeera: Karim Khan's defence team underscores that the prosecutor was removed while many court officials are under US sanctions.