A media investigation Middle East Eye unveiled a vast intimidation campaign targeting Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), because of his investigation into alleged “war crimes” of Israel. This campaign would include direct threats, pressures from allied countries of Israel and media leaks accusing Khan of sexual misconduct towards a colleague.
In May 2024, Nicholas Kaufman, British Israeli lawyer, would have warned Khan that if he did not withdraw the arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, he and the CPI risked “destruction”. David Cameron, then British Minister for Foreign Affairs, would have threatened to cut the funding of the ICC if mandates were issued. Twelve Republican senators, including Marco Rubio, would have sent a letter to Khan, threatening: “Take Israel, and we will aim to you. Senator Lindsey Graham would have added that pursuing these terms is equivalent to “shooting the hostages”.
Allegations of sexual misconduct would have emerged, but the investigation presents the complainant as a “serial accuser” and a key witness doubts the veracity of the accusations. Khan would also have received a security briefing reporting a potential Mossad threat to The Hague.