ICC prosecutor reveals pressure over Netanyahu arrest warrant

• ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan says the US and UK pressured him not to seek arrest warrants for senior 'Israeli' officials.
• Khan says the court remains independent despite political threats and renewed scrutiny over misconduct allegations.

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has revealed what he described as intense political pressure from the United States and Britain aimed at preventing the court from pursuing arrest warrants against senior 'Israeli' officials over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

In a special interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Khan said he faced direct diplomatic pressure after announcing in May 2024 that he would seek arrest warrants for 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

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Khan said the pressure campaign reflected broader attempts to influence the court’s work, but stressed that the ICC remains committed to judicial independence despite threats from powerful governments.

US senator’s warning

According to Khan, US Senator Lindsey Graham directly challenged the court’s jurisdiction and purpose.

Khan said Graham told him the ICC was created to deal with “Africa and people like Putin,” not democratic states such as 'Israel' and the United States.

The remark, Khan suggested, reflected a political effort to shield 'Israeli' officials from international prosecution as scrutiny mounted over the war in the Gaza Strip.

British threats exposed

Khan also confirmed reports that Britain’s previous Conservative government threatened punitive measures if the ICC moved forward with the warrants.

He said former British Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned during an April 2024 phone call that the United Kingdom could withdraw from the court and cut its funding if arrest warrants were issued against 'Israeli' leaders.

Khan noted that Britain’s stance softened following the change in government, describing the current position as more constructive.

Cleared over misconduct allegations

The prosecutor also addressed harassment allegations that surfaced as the legal proceedings against 'Israeli' officials intensified.

Khan said an independent judicial panel of three judges appointed by the ICC concluded in March 2026 that there was no evidence of misconduct, abuse of authority, or breach of professional duties.

Despite the findings, the matter could still be revisited by the Assembly of States Parties as part of an ongoing disciplinary review.

Such a move could trigger a vote among the court’s 125 member states on whether Khan should remain in office.

Warrants already issued

The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the military offensive in the Gaza Strip that began in October 2023.

The decision marked one of the most significant legal challenges ever faced by senior 'Israeli' officials and deepened tensions between the court and Western governments allied with 'Israel'.