According to a Wall Street Journal report, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is grappling with a major credibility crisis as its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, faces serious allegations of sexual assault—just as he came under growing pressure from pro-Palestinian groups to act against Israel.
A former ICC staff member and Malaysian lawyer has accused Khan of coerced sexual acts during official travel and at his residence in The Hague. These allegations are now under investigation by a UN-led external body. Khan has denied all wrongdoing.
The accusations surfaced shortly before Khan announced controversial arrest warrants in May 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The timing has raised eyebrows, with some critics suggesting the move against Israeli leaders was intended to deflect attention from Khan’s own misconduct scandal.
WSJ writes that for months, pro-Palestinian NGOs and legal activists had been lobbying Khan intensely, urging him to open cases against Israeli officials while accusing the court of dragging its feet. Demonstrations, open letters, and social media campaigns called on the ICC to hold Israeli leaders accountable for alleged war crimes, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.