International Criminal Court must not be frozen
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The dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has raised concerns about how and to what extent it will affect the functioning of the court. The dismissal is the final step in response to a complaint by a female subordinate. When the complaint was raised, an independent United Nations investigation team initiated steps. Khan then voluntarily stepped down from his duties in May 2025. Last June, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the executive body of the forum of member, suspended Khan; on July 14, the ASP voted by a majority to remove him from the ICC prosecutor’s post. Khan has denied the allegations. It is imperative that unethical acts committed by those in high positions are punished. At the same time, when we examine the high-profile cases that are likely to be disrupted by Karim Khan's removal, it is not so straight forward. his is the first time in the ICC's 24-year history that such a situation has arisen.
This comes amid efforts to bring to justice countries that cause most disruptions in the world including the US, Russia and Israel. The allegations of misconduct against Khan come at a time when the countries concerned are trying in various ways to undermine the work of the World Court. Justice must be served - not only against individuals, but also against countries with weapons and influence. One cannot be an obstacle to the other. There is a case against US troops and CIA officers for war crimes in Afghanistan. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and defence minister for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel's appeal, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to take action against them, was rejected. Although Israel is not a member of the ICC, the fact that Palestine is a member gives legitimacy to the action. If member states that are obligated to execute the warrants fail to do so, the ICC can take action. Such legal action has already been taken against some countries, such as Hungary. Arrest warrants have been issued on Russian officials, including President Putin, for the smuggling of children into Russia and the bombing of civilian centres. It is amidst all this that the chief prosecutor has been dismissed with the prosecution process on the charges against Israel being in progress. This means that the legal action against Israeli leaders will be uncertain.
The ICC is a forum for international justice and for punishing those who commit serious crimes, including war crimes and genocide. The court has convicted at least five people, including two from Congo and Mali. A verdict is yet to be delivered in the case against one. There have been complaints that African and poor countries are the ones who have to bear the brunt of the court's punishment, and that big nations are outside the court and justice. The United States is a country that has imposed sanctions on the officials of the World Court for initiating proceedings against them. Israel has been trying to obstruct the intervention and proceedings of the World Court in many ways since the beginning. With the expulsion of Karim Khan, exactly what they wanted happened. Although the warrant against Netanyahu was issued by Karim Khan, the judges have upheld it. The two prosecutors who were under Karim Khan can then take them over; another prosecutor could be appointed as well. But there is concern that such officials will withdraw the current arrest warrants. Israeli pressure and the threat of US sanctions are obstacles before justice. The relevance of the World Court is now in uncertainty.
