ICC member states vote to remove prosecutor Karim Khan

On July 24, 2026, the 125 member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted to remove Prosecutor Karim Khan from his position. The decision followed a vote where 82 states supported his dismissal in light of sexual misconduct allegations against the 56-year-old British legal official. Khan, who denies all charges, has claimed that the legal process leading to his removal was procedurally unfair and lacked evidentiary support.

The removal occurs amid significant international tensions, as the United States, which is not an ICC member, has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials, including Khan. Washington’s actions were reportedly motivated by the court's investigations into US military conduct in Afghanistan and the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following the vote, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated that Khan’s attempt to prosecute Israeli leadership was a political move intended to distract from his own misconduct, noting that the international community has now rejected these efforts.