ICC Must Hold Steady Amid Storm
Court of Last Resort Faces a Test
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is under intense scrutiny. At the center of it stands Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. He faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. These claims, reported by The Wall Street Journal on May 10, 2025, have prompted an ongoing United Nations investigation.
Despite the headlines, the ICC remains vital. Its mission—to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity—has never been more important. The court must remain focused. Global justice depends on it.
The Charges and the Context
A Malaysian lawyer who worked under Khan filed a formal complaint. She alleges repeated sexual misconduct in several countries. One disturbing claim centers on a December 2023 encounter in New York. The woman also accuses Khan of retaliation and abuse of power.
Khan denies all charges. His legal team calls the allegations “categorically untrue.” The case is under investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). Khan remains in office. His deputies now oversee sensitive matters, including cases involving Gaza.
A Shadow of Espionage
The allegations surfaced shortly after Khan issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. That timing has sparked credible speculation.
Did Mossad have a hand in this?
There’s no proof. But there is a pattern. Israel has spent years attacking the ICC’s legitimacy. In 2024, The Guardian revealed that Israeli intelligence spied on Khan and his predecessor. They reportedly intercepted emails and phone calls, seeking leverage. The Mossad hypothesis cannot be dismissed.
Israel fiercely opposed the ICC’s Gaza probe. Netanyahu labeled the arrest warrants “antisemitic.” Given that hostility, some believe the allegations are a smear campaign. The goal: discredit Khan and derail the ICC’s pursuit of justice in Gaza.
ICC Must Not Flinch
While the OIOS investigation continues, the ICC must hold the line. It must ensure transparency. It must remain neutral. It must be firm.
This isn’t the first time the court has faced internal controversy. A 2020 review flagged widespread workplace issues, including harassment. But this is different. The stakes are geopolitical. The ICC is navigating a legal and moral battlefield.
Some NGOs, including FIDH and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, have called for Khan’s suspension. ICC staff unions demand a fully independent probe. Yet despite internal frustration, the ICC has not buckled.
That is the mark of a strong institution.
Khan and the Critics
Khan continues to defend himself. He says the allegations are politically timed. His lawyers argue that he warned the U.S. about the Gaza arrest warrants weeks before the story broke. They claim the accuser delayed reporting the misconduct, fearing retaliation.
The complainant, meanwhile, remains out of public view. Reports say she feared for her family and struggled with the pressure. She is now cooperating with investigators. Her voice deserves to be heard—without silencing the broader context.
A Calculated Crisis?
Critics point out that the case could serve Israel’s interests. The arrest warrants embarrassed its leadership. A scandal involving Khan, timed with precision, could discredit the ICC’s Gaza investigation.
Was that the intention?
It’s a theory, not fact. But it fits a known playbook. Israel has employed cyberattacks, threats, and diplomatic pressure against the court before. That history adds weight to the Mossad hypothesis, even without direct evidence.
Still, the ICC must focus on facts, not theories.
Where the ICC Goes From Here
If Khan is cleared, doubts will linger. If he is found guilty, a resignation is inevitable. Either way, the ICC must repair internal trust and public confidence.
Reforms are essential. The court needs stronger whistleblower protections and better oversight. The 2020 review’s recommendations must be implemented. Silence and delay no longer serve justice.
The Gaza case must also continue. Victims of war crimes cannot become collateral damage in a political game. The ICC was built to stand tall during storms. Now is the time to prove it.
The ICC’s mission matters. Justice for victims of war crimes, wherever they are, must not falter. Karim Khan may be facing serious allegations. But the institution he leads is more than one man.
This moment calls for clarity, not chaos. For facts, not fear. And for courage—in the face of external pressure and internal unrest.
The ICC must rise above politics, as it was designed to do. Global accountability depends on it.
