A Gotcha Moment

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The oversight body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said this week that it would initiate an external investigation into sexual misconduct accusations against its top prosecutor, even as he remains in the job during the probe, the BBC reported.

Prosecutor Karim Khan is accused of trying to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship, a claim he denies.

“I welcome the opportunity to engage in this process,” he said, adding he would continue “all other functions as prosecutor” while the investigation is ongoing.

The move to seek an outside party to investigate came after the court’s internal watchdog concluded an inquiry into the matter in just five days, a time period deemed insufficient.

“An external investigation is therefore being pursued in order to ensure a fully independent, impartial and fair process,” Päivi Kaukoranta, head of the Assembly of States Parties, which is charged with overseeing the court, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the accusations come amid an Israeli intelligence campaign to discredit the court’s prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, the Guardian wrote.

Multiple senior ICC sources told the British newspaper that the delay in establishing an external inquiry has exposed the court to attacks by those seeking to exploit the allegations to discredit the judicial body and undermine its investigation into the situation in Palestine.

A panel of ICC judges is considering applications by Khan for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

While many among Khan’s staff are alarmed by pro-Israeli interests seizing on the sexual misconduct allegations, there are concerns among senior ranks of his staff about his public response to the situation.