Key ICC meeting due to start amid allegations

The annual session of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) governing body is set to start in The Hague despite allegations against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, according to Middle East Eye and agencies on November 29th.

Khan oversaw the issue of the arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and ex-Defence Minister Yoav Galant in 2024. The unprecedented warrant against Israeli leaders was harshly criticised, with the US personally targeting Khan’s team with sanctions.

In 2024 and 2025, he was accused of sexual misconduct, allegations he has categorically denied. Lawyers representing him have said he is the victim of an “orchestrated campaign” aiming to discredit his investigation into Gaza war crimes.

Khan took a leave of absence in May pending the outcome, leaving the court without an active chief prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the ICC’s leading body, the Assembly of State Parties (ASP), which consists of representatives from 125 countries who have ratified the Rome Statute, will be meeting for the first week of December.

The climate this year will be particularly tense: the war on Gaza seems to have placed the court under unprecedented strain, with the UK having threatened to withdraw from the ICC, and Hungary having hosted Netanyahu in violation of the warrant against him.

These challenges have deeply impacted the work of the ICC and the way it is perceived: the very notion of international law has been threatened by the perceived impunity of Israel’s actions.

The lack of transparency on the ongoing misconduct investigation has also dented the court’s reputation: it was expected to be completed by the end of October, and no explanation has been given for the delay, leaving the Court in limbo.

Middle East Eye and agencies, The Guardian