In a decisive legal ruling, International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been exonerated of all misconduct allegations by a special judicial panel reviewing United Nations investigation findings. Middle East Eye has exclusively obtained details of the confidential report submitted to the ICC’s executive oversight body on March 9th, which concludes the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services’ findings “do not establish any misconduct or breach of duty” by the prosecutor.
The three-judge panel, appointed by the Assembly of States Parties, conducted a comprehensive three-month review of the 150-page OIOS report and over 5,000 pages of supporting evidence. Applying the criminal law standard of “beyond reasonable doubt,” the judges unanimously determined that the factual findings failed to substantiate allegations of either serious or less serious misconduct against Khan, who has vigorously denied all accusations.
This development occurs against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding Khan’s office’s pursuit of war crimes investigations against Israeli officials regarding the Gaza conflict. The prosecutor has faced intense international pressure, including financial and visa sanctions from the Trump administration targeting Khan, his deputies, and several ICC judges. The United Kingdom has additionally threatened defunding and withdrawal from the court over the Israel-Palestine investigation.
The misconduct allegations initially emerged in May 2024, coinciding with Khan’s preparations to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. According to documentation filed by Khan, he was informed of the sexual misconduct claims on May 2, 2024—the same day he planned to announce the warrants—though Israel has alleged the timing suggests procedural rushing rather than misconduct.
The ICC’s Bureau now faces a 30-day deadline to issue its preliminary assessment, after which Khan will have 30 days to respond before a final determination is made. Meanwhile, the court continues to examine both Israel’s challenge to ICC jurisdiction over Palestine and a separate complaint seeking Khan’s disqualification for alleged lack of impartiality.