Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, has recently announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for leaders of both Israel and Hamas. This announcement has brought significant attention to his long career in international law, where he has built a reputation as a skilled speaker and a formidable litigator.
Background and Career Highlights
Khan, a British lawyer, took over as the chief prosecutor of the ICC in June 2021. His career includes roles both in defense and prosecution at various international courts. Notably, he has represented high-profile clients such as Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi, and Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia. He also defended William Ruto, now the president of Kenya, in a case that ended in a mistrial due to witness interference and political meddling.
Election as ICC Prosecutor
Khan’s election as ICC prosecutor in 2021 came after a prolonged deadlock, with strong backing from Britain and other European nations. Though the United States is not a member of the ICC, it supported his candidacy behind the scenes. One of his first controversial decisions was to deprioritize an investigation into abuses by American forces in Afghanistan, instead focusing on larger alleged crimes by the Taliban and Islamic State.
Recent Investigations and Challenges
Khan has been active in investigating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, obtaining an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in March 2023. However, his progress on investigating alleged crimes by Israel against Palestinians and by Hamas has been slower, hampered by a lack of cooperation from Israel. Critics have accused him of a double standard, particularly regarding his response to the Hamas-led attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military actions.
Unprecedented Announcement
Despite these challenges, Khan recently traveled to the West Bank and Israeli villages attacked by Hamas. His announcement on Monday about seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders was an unprecedented move for the ICC. He revealed his plans in a recorded statement and disclosed a list of experts who reviewed his evidence, signaling strong legal support for his decision.
Expert Opinion
Christine van den Wyngaert, a veteran Belgian jurist, commented that Khan’s actions show thorough consideration and prudence, traits that may help avoid the pitfalls of insufficient evidence that plagued his predecessors.
