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Khan removed as Gaza case
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the International Criminal Court’s decision to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan, calling it “a very positive development” and saying he had “saluté la décision” after a vote that removed Khan by a “large majority of pays.”
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday attacked former International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan, describing him as a fraud following his dismissal amid allegations of sexual misconduct”
Netanyahu linked the dismissal to the ICC’s 2024 arrest warrants for him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant in the context of the war in Gaza, saying the prosecutor “a accéléré cette procédure afin de détourner l'attention des accusations portées contre lui.”
In parallel, Middle East Eye reported Netanyahu wrote on X that he welcomed the removal “supported by an overwhelming majority of countries,” and accused Khan of political bias and of seeking arrest warrants to “divert attention.”
The removal followed member states voting on Friday to remove Khan over misconduct claims, including the allegations that he sexually harassed “des collaboratrices de la Cour,” according to i24NEWS and Middle East Eye.
Malaysia Sun later placed the development alongside Netanyahu’s planned meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington and his vow of a broader Israeli campaign in the West Bank, while reiterating Netanyahu’s criticism of the ICC and his claim that Khan’s dismissal exposed corruption.
Rubio backs action
Netanyahu said he exchanged messages with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who he claimed “once again reaffirmed America's determination to act forcefully against this institution,” after Khan’s removal.
Middle East Eye quoted Netanyahu describing the ICC as “an institution that undermines justice, attacks democratic and sovereign nations, and seeks to subordinate their security to the decisions of unaccountable and corrupt officials in The Hague.”
In i24NEWS, Netanyahu similarly said Rubio confirmed US willingness to act against the ICC, and Netanyahu portrayed the ICC as violating justice and enabling “corrompus et irresponsables” to challenge elected governments’ decisions.
Malaysia Sun added that Netanyahu planned to discuss Iran with Trump in Washington and said the Israeli government’s directives in the West Bank were “to enter the villages, sweep them, seize weapons, and make arrests.”
Le Dauphiné Libéré reported that the ICC Assembly of States Parties removed Khan in a secret-ballot vote at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with 82 member states voting to terminate his mandate while 63 votes were required.
Gaza warrants and appeal
Khan’s removal did not end the Gaza-linked legal fight that Netanyahu says complicated his travel to ICC member states in The Hague, because multiple sources tied Khan’s 2024 actions to the ICC’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
“- i24NEWS - Israël - Diplomatie Israélienne - Netanyahou salue la destitution du procureur de la CPI Karim Khan Netanyahou salue la destitution du procureur de la CPI Karim Khan Il a affirmé que cette affaire mettait en lumière « la vérité » sur la conduite du procureur ainsi que sur ce qu'il considère comme une « persécution politique » visant Israël et ses dirigeants Benyamin Netanyahou a salué ce dimanche la décision de la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) de destituer son procureur général, Karim Khan”
Malay Mail reported that Khan, 56, was dismissed after 82 of 125 members voted to remove him for “serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty,” and that his lawyer said he would challenge the decision through “all available legal mechanisms.”
Al-Jazeera Net said Netanyahu described Khan as “a swindler” and claimed Khan sought to “distract from the crimes attributed to him personally,” while also noting Netanyahu’s intention to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York in September to “defend Israel.”
The same Al-Jazeera Net account said the removal “does not automatically nullify” the arrest warrants, because “withdrawal or retention of arrest warrants remains the purview of ICC judges, not the prosecutor,” keeping the warrants in play even after Khan’s dismissal.
Al Jazeera Net also cited an Axios reporter saying Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Israeli diplomatic missions intensified outreach to rally countries to vote for removing Khan or to abstain, as the United States announced a new diplomatic campaign to dismantle the ICC.
