The International Criminal Court (ICC) said Wednesday that Israel had demanded the disqualification of its top prosecutor and the cancellation of arrest warrants against top Israeli officials over the Gaza war.
Israel had accused Karim Khan on Monday of wanting to "divert public attention" from allegations over his behaviour by requesting arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, accusing the pair of complicity in war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territory.
Khan is currently on leave pending an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
"The State of Israel submitted today (Monday) to the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) a request to disqualify the Court's Prosecutor, Mr. Karim Khan, from involvement in proceedings concerning Israel," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oren Marmorstein posted on X.
Marmorstein accused Khan of "improper personal motives to advance false and unfounded allegations against Israel", including by advancing "baseless and outrageous warrants".
"These actions were intended to divert public attention from severe accusations against him of serial sexual harassment of a subordinate employee," the spokesman alleged.
On its website, the Hague-based court published a document confirming it had received a "Request to Disqualify the Prosecutor and for Ancillary Remedies", without offering any clarification.
According to various media reports, Khan was accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards a woman who worked at his office.
Last year, Khan asked the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and three senior Hamas officials.
Despite Israel appealing to the court, the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant were granted and remain outstanding.
The court is also currently examining an Israeli challenge to its competence.
