Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan of using the court's arrest warrant against him as a means to divert attention from allegations of misconduct against Khan. Netanyahu stated that the timing of the arrest warrant coincided with allegations against Khan, claiming that Khan canceled a planned visit to Israel and shifted focus to pursuing arrest warrants against him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu alleged that Khan's actions were driven by personal and political motivations rather than the merits of the case, asserting that Khan aimed to rally Israel’s adversaries and distract from the allegations against him. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant in November 2024, related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following Israel’s military actions in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas.
Netanyahu has consistently rejected the ICC's jurisdiction over Israel and criticized the court's actions as politically motivated. He stated that the allegations against Khan reveal a deeper corruption within the Office of the Prosecutor and the ICC. Khan is currently facing scrutiny and potential removal amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, as reported by CNN.