FILE PHOTO: View of the ICC, the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Associated Press Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — As the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought war crimes charges this year against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over actions in Gaza, he was engulfed in a very different personal crisis playing out behind the scenes.
Karim Khan faced accusations that he tried for more than a year to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship and groped her against her will. He’s categorically denied the allegations, saying there was “no truth to suggestions of misconduct.” Court officials have said they may have been made as part of an Israeli intelligence smear campaign.
Two co-workers in whom the woman confided at the ICC’s headquarters at The Hague reported the alleged misconduct in early May to the court’s independent watchdog, which says it interviewed the woman and ended its inquiry after five days when she opted against filing a formal complaint. Khan himself was never questioned.
But the matter may not be over.
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While the woman declined to comment to The Associated Press, people close to her say her initial reluctance was driven by distrust of the in-house watchdog and she has asked the body of member-states that oversees the ICC to launch an external probe. An ICC official with knowledge of the matter who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity confirmed that the request remains under consideration.
Those efforts were applauded by those close to the woman, who still works at the court.
“This wasn’t a one-time advance or an arm around the shoulder that could be subject to misinterpretation,” one of the people told Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to shield the woman’s identity. “It was a full-on, repeated pattern of conduct that was carried out over a long period of time.”
While the court’s watchdog could not determine wrongdoing, it nonetheless urged Khan in a memo to minimize contact with the woman to protect the rights of all involved and safeguard the court’s integrity.
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Within days of the watchdog’s shelving of the case, the court’s work went on. Khan on May 20 sought arrest warrants against Netanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges. A three-judge panel is now weighing that request.
US President Joe Biden’s administration said it was blindsided by the move, with the president calling the prosecution “outrageous” for implying an equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
In announcing the charges, Khan hinted that outside forces were waging a campaign to derail his investigation.
“I insist that all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence the officials of this court must cease immediately,” Khan said, adding he wouldn’t hesitate to use his authority to investigate anyone suspected of obstructing justice.