International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has submitted a formal statement alleging that a senior British government official threatened to withdraw UK funding and support for the court if he pursued arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. Middle East Eye identifies the official as then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who reportedly warned Khan that targeting Israeli leadership would be “like dropping a hydrogen bomb.
The allegations emerge from Khan’s detailed submission to the ICC’s appeal chamber, responding to Israel’s November request for his disqualification from investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel claims Khan rushed the warrants after learning of sexual misconduct allegations against him, which Khan strenuously denies and characterizes as a campaign to undermine his office’s work.
Khan’s chronology reveals his office began investigating alleged crimes by both Israel and Hamas in October 2023, shortly after the October 7 attacks. By January 2024, he had convened an independent panel of legal experts—including British human rights lawyers Amal Clooney and Helena Kennedy—which unanimously concluded in March that sufficient evidence existed to request arrest warrants.
The prosecutor details mounting diplomatic pressure from multiple nations as his office prepared warrants. This included an April 19 call from a senior US official warning of “disastrous consequences,” followed by Cameron’s alleged threat on April 23 regarding UK funding withdrawal. Khan also references subsequent pressure from US senators threatening sanctions.
Despite these interventions, Khan’s office filed warrant applications against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders on May 20, 2024. The prosecutor maintains the process was “meticulous,” “fair,” and “independent,” with warrant preparations completed before he learned of misconduct allegations in early May.
Cameron’s office has not responded to requests for comment, though sources close to the former prime minister acknowledge a “robust” conversation occurred while characterizing it as highlighting political realities rather than making explicit threats. The allegations have prompted calls from British politicians for official investigation into the foreign secretary’s conduct.