A sexual misconduct scandal and political backlash over Israel ’s Gaza war have plunged the world’s top war crimes court into crisis.
The story so far
Karim Khan , the British-Pakistani chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), once hailed for revitalising the world’s top war crimes body, now finds himself at the centre of a scandal that has shaken its credibility.
Khan, who issued unprecedented arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza, is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct made by a former aide. The timing of the allegations — surfacing soon after the Israeli warrants — has fuelled claims of political sabotage and divided international opinion over whether justice or geopolitics is on trial.
The charges and the controversy
The allegations against Karim Khan centre on a series of incidents described by a Malaysian lawyer who worked closely with him at the ICC. She initially complained privately to colleagues in early 2024 that Khan had subjected her to multiple unwanted advances — including inappropriate touching, late-night visits to her hotel room, and comments about her appearance — but she declined to participate in a formal inquiry at the time, citing mental health concerns and pressure within the office.
Internal investigators from the ICC’s oversight bureau met her in May 2024, but the inquiry was suspended after she refused to provide testimony. Khan was advised to minimise direct contact with her, and both continued to work in The Hague.
Five months later, in October 2024, the story resurfaced through an anonymous email and a series of posts from an X (formerly Twitter) account called @ICC_Leaks, which shared internal documents and alleged that Khan had “locked” the woman in his office, “touched her sexually,” and coerced her into sexual encounters during official trips. The leaks included her personal details and coincided with Khan’s high-profile warrants against Israeli leaders — fuelling speculation that the timing was politically motivated.
Soon after, the woman expanded her claims in statements to UN investigators, alleging that Khan had repeatedly forced her into “coercive sex” at his home in The Hague and during several work missions abroad. She described feeling “trapped” and said she feared retaliation or humiliation at work. The Wall Street Journal, citing her testimony, published excerpts in May 2025 detailing her account of being “led to the bed” and “unable to resist.”
Khan has categorically denied all allegations, arguing that the relationship was professional and that he is being targeted by Israeli and American interests seeking to discredit the Gaza investigation. His defence team has submitted internal correspondence and travel logs to demonstrate that meetings were visible to other staff and that his movements were monitored by security personnel.
A UN-led inquiry is now reviewing both the accuser’s evidence — which includes recorded phone calls, text messages, and contemporaneous notes — and Khan’s counterclaims of political manipulation. Its findings are expected to determine not only his fate but also the ICC’s credibility at a moment when it is attempting to hold some of the world’s most powerful governments accountable.
Political and diplomatic fallout
The episode has drawn sharp responses from major powers. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has imposed sanctions on Khan, his deputies, and ICC judges — freezing assets, blocking financial access, and restricting travel. Several ICC staff with US ties have resigned in protest or fear of reprisal.
In Israel, the government and its allies have used the scandal to question the legitimacy of the Gaza warrants. Netanyahu called the ICC “a corrupt organisation,” while Senator Lindsey Graham declared that the allegations cast “a moral cloud” over Khan’s decision-making.
Within the ICC, divisions have widened between those who saw the Israeli warrants as a necessary assertion of equal justice, and those who warned that provoking Washington and Tel Aviv could imperil the court’s survival.
Why it matters
The crisis has turned the ICC into a battleground between international law and realpolitik. Khan’s defenders view him as the first prosecutor willing to challenge powerful nations, after years of criticism that the ICC targeted only weaker African states. His detractors argue that his alleged misconduct and impetuous style have damaged the court’s credibility beyond repair.
The sexual abuse allegations have also blurred the lines between personal accountability and political retribution. Selective leaks, the timing of investigations, and suggestions of intelligence involvement — including possible Mossad interference — have further complicated the narrative.
Meanwhile, the court’s work has slowed to a crawl. Khan is on leave, funding is under threat, and staff salaries have been prepaid amid fears of further US sanctions.
The larger picture
The ICC was established in 2002 to ensure that war crimes and crimes against humanity would not go unpunished. But it has long struggled to assert authority over the world’s most powerful states — none of which, including the US, Russia, China, or Israel, recognise its jurisdiction.
Khan’s tenure initially appeared to break that pattern. He secured warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, Hamas leaders for the October 7 attacks, and Israel’s top leadership for the Gaza siege. Yet the very assertiveness that made him a reformer has now made him a target.
A UN investigation is expected to deliver its findings in the coming months. Its conclusions will determine not just Khan’s future, but whether the ICC itself can withstand political pressure and preserve even a semblance of impartial justice.
Bottom line:
The court founded to prosecute the world’s most serious crimes now finds its own chief prosecutor accused, its independence questioned, and its credibility at stake. Whether Karim Khan is remembered as a reformer undone by politics or a leader consumed by scandal may ultimately decide the fate of the ICC itself.
The story so far
Karim Khan , the British-Pakistani chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), once hailed for revitalising the world’s top war crimes body, now finds himself at the centre of a scandal that has shaken its credibility.
Khan, who issued unprecedented arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza, is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct made by a former aide. The timing of the allegations — surfacing soon after the Israeli warrants — has fuelled claims of political sabotage and divided international opinion over whether justice or geopolitics is on trial.
The charges and the controversy
The allegations against Karim Khan centre on a series of incidents described by a Malaysian lawyer who worked closely with him at the ICC. She initially complained privately to colleagues in early 2024 that Khan had subjected her to multiple unwanted advances — including inappropriate touching, late-night visits to her hotel room, and comments about her appearance — but she declined to participate in a formal inquiry at the time, citing mental health concerns and pressure within the office.
Internal investigators from the ICC’s oversight bureau met her in May 2024, but the inquiry was suspended after she refused to provide testimony. Khan was advised to minimise direct contact with her, and both continued to work in The Hague.
Five months later, in October 2024, the story resurfaced through an anonymous email and a series of posts from an X (formerly Twitter) account called @ICC_Leaks, which shared internal documents and alleged that Khan had “locked” the woman in his office, “touched her sexually,” and coerced her into sexual encounters during official trips. The leaks included her personal details and coincided with Khan’s high-profile warrants against Israeli leaders — fuelling speculation that the timing was politically motivated.
Soon after, the woman expanded her claims in statements to UN investigators, alleging that Khan had repeatedly forced her into “coercive sex” at his home in The Hague and during several work missions abroad. She described feeling “trapped” and said she feared retaliation or humiliation at work. The Wall Street Journal, citing her testimony, published excerpts in May 2025 detailing her account of being “led to the bed” and “unable to resist.”
Khan has categorically denied all allegations, arguing that the relationship was professional and that he is being targeted by Israeli and American interests seeking to discredit the Gaza investigation. His defence team has submitted internal correspondence and travel logs to demonstrate that meetings were visible to other staff and that his movements were monitored by security personnel.
A UN-led inquiry is now reviewing both the accuser’s evidence — which includes recorded phone calls, text messages, and contemporaneous notes — and Khan’s counterclaims of political manipulation. Its findings are expected to determine not only his fate but also the ICC’s credibility at a moment when it is attempting to hold some of the world’s most powerful governments accountable.
Political and diplomatic fallout
The episode has drawn sharp responses from major powers. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has imposed sanctions on Khan, his deputies, and ICC judges — freezing assets, blocking financial access, and restricting travel. Several ICC staff with US ties have resigned in protest or fear of reprisal.
In Israel, the government and its allies have used the scandal to question the legitimacy of the Gaza warrants. Netanyahu called the ICC “a corrupt organisation,” while Senator Lindsey Graham declared that the allegations cast “a moral cloud” over Khan’s decision-making.
Within the ICC, divisions have widened between those who saw the Israeli warrants as a necessary assertion of equal justice, and those who warned that provoking Washington and Tel Aviv could imperil the court’s survival.
Why it matters
The crisis has turned the ICC into a battleground between international law and realpolitik. Khan’s defenders view him as the first prosecutor willing to challenge powerful nations, after years of criticism that the ICC targeted only weaker African states. His detractors argue that his alleged misconduct and impetuous style have damaged the court’s credibility beyond repair.
The sexual abuse allegations have also blurred the lines between personal accountability and political retribution. Selective leaks, the timing of investigations, and suggestions of intelligence involvement — including possible Mossad interference — have further complicated the narrative.
Meanwhile, the court’s work has slowed to a crawl. Khan is on leave, funding is under threat, and staff salaries have been prepaid amid fears of further US sanctions.
The larger picture
The ICC was established in 2002 to ensure that war crimes and crimes against humanity would not go unpunished. But it has long struggled to assert authority over the world’s most powerful states — none of which, including the US, Russia, China, or Israel, recognise its jurisdiction.
Khan’s tenure initially appeared to break that pattern. He secured warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, Hamas leaders for the October 7 attacks, and Israel’s top leadership for the Gaza siege. Yet the very assertiveness that made him a reformer has now made him a target.
A UN investigation is expected to deliver its findings in the coming months. Its conclusions will determine not just Khan’s future, but whether the ICC itself can withstand political pressure and preserve even a semblance of impartial justice.
Bottom line:
The court founded to prosecute the world’s most serious crimes now finds its own chief prosecutor accused, its independence questioned, and its credibility at stake. Whether Karim Khan is remembered as a reformer undone by politics or a leader consumed by scandal may ultimately decide the fate of the ICC itself.
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