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Sunday, March 22, 2026
Sexual misconduct claims against ICC prosecutor still under review despite report he was cleared
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Allegations of sexual misconduct against Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, are still under review by the court’s executive branch, an internal memo shared with staff says, after a media report that he had been exonerated.
In 2024, Khan requested arrest warrants that were later issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for allegations including crimes against humanity and war crimes during the war in Gaza. Israel has called for the case to be dismissed due to the sexual misconduct allegations against Khan.
Khan has stepped aside temporarily pending an investigation into the claims, which allege a non-consensual sexual relationship with a lawyer in his office. He rejects allegations of wrongdoing.
After a yearlong investigation, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services submitted its confidential fact-finding report in December to the ICC’s executive branch, known as the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties.
A news report in the Middle East Eye yesterday said Khan had been cleared of the allegations.
But in a memo to court staff, which Reuters reviewed, the Assembly’s President Paivi Kaukoranta says: “The disciplinary process before the Bureau is ongoing and remains confidential. No decisions have been taken, and no weight should be given to recent media speculation.”
The court, the office of the prosecutor, the Assembly and external lawyers representing Khan do not respond to emails seeking comment, which were sent today outside of normal working hours.
The Times of Israel Community.