ICC Member States Vote to Remove Prosecutor Karim Khan

A majority of the 125 member states of the International Criminal Court voted on July 25, 2026, to remove Karim Khan from his position as Chief Prosecutor. The decision followed allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide. The vote occurred during a special session at United Nations headquarters in New York and concluded early after a motion to protect Khan failed.

Khan has denied the allegations and intends to use legal mechanisms to challenge the lawfulness of the removal. While his two deputy prosecutors are currently leading the office, the timeline for appointing a permanent successor is not yet established. The removal does not affect existing arrest warrants, as only ICC judges hold the authority to withdraw them.

The ouster took place alongside heightened geopolitical tension involving the court. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has led a campaign to dismantle the ICC, and Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the institution. Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi stated the vote was not a political proxy vote on any specific situation before the court.