DaysofPal- The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has revealed details of the intense political pressure from the United States and the United Kingdom aimed at preventing him from seeking arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Khan reaffirmed the court’s independence in the face of international pressure and threats. He said the pressure escalated after he announced in May 2024 his intention to request arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Khan pointed to remarks by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who told him explicitly that the ICC was “meant to deal with Africa and figures like Putin, not democratic states such as Israel and the United States.” The prosecutor cited this as an example of the political pushback he faced.
Addressing the British position, Khan confirmed reports that he had received threats from London prior to a change in government. He stated that former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned him during an April 2024 phone call that the United Kingdom could withdraw from the ICC and suspend its funding if arrest warrants were issued against Israeli officials. Khan noted, however, that the UK’s stance appeared to improve following the transition to a new government.
Khan also addressed allegations of harassment made against him during the same period in which he was pursuing action against Israeli leaders. He said an independent judicial panel of three judges, appointed by the ICC, concluded in March 2026 that there was no evidence of misconduct, abuse of authority, or breach of duty.
Despite his exoneration, Khan indicated that the issue could still be revisited by the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, potentially opening the door to a vote on his removal by the court’s 125 member states as part of an ongoing disciplinary process.
The ICC had already issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the war on the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023.
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