• The ICC voted to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
• 82 member states supported the removal, surpassing the necessary majority.
• The decision has been linked to Khan's investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes.

Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct. During a special session at the United Nations headquarters in New York, 82 out of the court's 125 members voted in favor of his dismissal, with 13 voting against and 15 abstaining. This is the first time in the ICC's 24-year history that a sitting chief prosecutor has been removed from office, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.

The removal vote comes in the wake of ongoing tensions related to Khan's role in investigating alleged war crimes against top Israeli officials, which has faced significant political backlash. The allegations against Khan date back nearly two years and include accusations of sexual harassment by a junior colleague. Khan has denied all allegations and argued that the process leading to his removal was "unlawful" and procedurally unfair, claiming a lack of supporting evidence, as reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Critics of the ICC have suggested that Khan's removal is part of a broader political agenda, particularly linked to his decision to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. This was met with strong opposition from the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Khan and other ICC officials for their investigation into Israel, as noted in multiple sources including Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

Following the vote, it is unclear who will take over the responsibilities held by Khan, as the process to elect a new prosecutor has not yet been established. The remaining ICC warrants will stay in effect regardless of Khan's removal, as only the judges can withdraw such warrants, according to Reuters and Middle East Eye.