ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Temporarily Steps Aside Amid UN Probe as Gaza War Investigations Continue
Karim Khan takes administrative leave from the International Criminal Court during a UN-led investigation into alleged misconduct, as the court proceeds with war crimes cases involving Gaza and Ukraine.
Watan-Sources at the International Criminal Court (ICC) told Reuters on Friday that ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has temporarily stepped aside as a United Nations investigation into alleged sexual misconduct nears completion.
According to sources in the prosecutor’s office, a formal statement is expected later today announcing that Khan will take administrative leave. Khan has denied the allegations, which were submitted in October 2023 to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP)—the ICC’s governing and oversight body.
Following the emergence of the accusations, several NGOs and ICC staff called on Khan to temporarily recuse himself during the investigation. However, he initially remained in office.
Sources, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Khan was interviewed last week by UN investigators, in what is believed to be the final stage of the external probe, which began in December 2023. The timeline and outcome of the investigation remain unclear, including what implications it may have for Khan’s future.
An official in the Office of the Prosecutor said it is still uncertain who will assume Khan’s responsibilities during his absence. The development comes at a critical time, as the ICC is currently conducting high-profile investigations, including:
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Alleged war crimes by Israel in Gaza since October 7, 2023
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
U.S. Sanctions and Political Pressure
On February 13, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Karim Khan, following an executive order by President Donald Trump targeting the ICC. The move came just days after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Trump condemned the ICC’s actions, stating in an official message that the court “illegally targets the United States and its close allies such as Israel.”
Who Is Karim Khan?
Born in 1970, Karim Khan is a prominent British barrister and a former Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel). He is the third Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, elected by secret ballot, and previously served as:
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Deputy Prosecutor at the ICC (2007)
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Legal advisor in the International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda
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Lead investigator in high-stakes probes in Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan
His most politically charged act came on November 21, 2024, when he authorized arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of directing indiscriminate attacks and imposing starvation on civilians in Gaza.
Significance of Khan’s Temporary Exit
Khan’s leave occurs as the ICC continues sensitive investigations into Israeli military conduct in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 173,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, since the beginning of the war. His absence raises questions about the pace and political vulnerability of the court’s Gaza case.
While the court’s mandate is to uphold international law without political bias, the U.S. backlash and ongoing war crimes probe against a close ally like Israel have placed extraordinary pressure on the ICC—and Khan personally.
Despite the internal probe, legal experts emphasize that his departure does not invalidate ongoing investigations, and a new prosecutor (or acting one) is expected to continue the Gaza and Ukraine cases without disruption.
This moment marks a turning point for the ICC, testing its resilience, independence, and credibility in the face of unprecedented political interference and internal scrutiny.
