ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Removed in Historic Vote

New York / The Hague 24 July 2026

The Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court has voted to remove Karim Khan as Chief Prosecutor, marking the first time in the court’s history that a sitting prosecutor has been dismissed from office.

In a secret ballot held during a special session at United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday, 82 of the ICC’s 125 member states voted in favour of Khan’s removal. Thirteen states voted against, and 15 abstained. The outcome exceeds the absolute majority of 63 votes required under the Rome Statute.

Khan, a British barrister who took office in 2021, had been suspended from his duties since early June after the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties concluded he had committed “serious misconduct” and a “serious breach of duty.” The findings stemmed from allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female staff member in the Office of the Prosecutor. A United Nations investigation reported evidence of non-consensual sexual contact. Khan has consistently and firmly denied all allegations, describing the process against him as unlawful, procedurally unfair, and unsupported by evidence.

The vote came after a lengthy and unprecedented disciplinary process that began with complaints in 2024. Khan had stepped aside on voluntary leave in May 2025 while the inquiry proceeded. Deputy prosecutors have managed the Office of the Prosecutor during his absence.

Khan’s tenure included high-profile investigations, notably the applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in relation to the conflict in Gaza, as well as warrants concerning Hamas leaders. Those judicial warrants remain in force and are unaffected by the change in the prosecutor’s office, as only ICC judges have authority to withdraw them.

The Assembly of States Parties will now begin the process of electing a permanent successor. In the interim, the deputy prosecutors will continue to lead the office.

The decision closes a turbulent chapter for the court, which has faced intense external pressure, including United States sanctions targeting Khan and other ICC officials over the Gaza investigation.