Israel filed a request on Monday to disqualify chief International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan from involvement in any cases against Israel in light of the sexual harassment allegations against him, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
The official submission, made to the ICC’s Appeals Chamber, requests that the court cancel the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
“The request was submitted following information and grave reports raising serous concern that the Prosecutor acted out of improper personal motives to advance false and unfounded allegations against Israel,” said the ministry. “These actions were intended to divert public attention from severe accusations against him of serial sexual harassment of a subordinate employee.”
https://x.com/israelmfa/status/1990515710867747089?s=46&t=IP0ubYwW3WvogAeMTtR4dw
The appeal comes two months after Netanyahu accused the recused Khan of manufacturing “war crimes” allegations against the Jewish state to deflect claims of sex crimes made against him.
The Israeli leader alleged that Khan, whose brother was convicted in 2022 for sexually assaulting a child, “hatched a plan” to “scapegoat Israel, rally the anti-Israel mob behind him” to save his career.
Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant last year for alleged crimes in the war against Hamas in Gaza. ICC warrants were also issued against three Hamas leaders, all of whom have since been killed by Israel.
The Trump administration subsequently targeted Khan with sanctions.
Khan stepped aside in May pending a U.N. inquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct.
He has also been accused of retaliating against staff who supported his accuser, including by demoting several people he felt were critical of him.
In August, the Guardian reported that a second woman has come forward to accuse Khan of sexual misconduct.
