Lyn Frans
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to engage Bindmans, a law firm associated with Palestinian advocacy, has raised concerns about a conflict of interest that could compromise his impartiality in seeking arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
Karim Khan, is currently facing a sexual harassment scandal that is under investigation by an external body. His supporters have suggested that this situation is being influenced by Israeli interests.
Complicating matters further, Khan has recently hired the British law firm Bindmans, known for its ties to Palestinian advocacy, which has raised additional concerns about his impartiality. This decision has placed him in an even more precarious position.
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His alleged hiring decision may place him in a significant conflict of interest, potentially undermining his efforts to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and recently dismissed Defence Minister Yoay Gallant.
Bindmans, a law firm representing several Palestinian organizations, has been urging ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. One of the firm’s partners, Tayab Ali, serves as the director of the “International Center of Justice for Palestinians,” a London-based organization that actively pursues legal actions against Israel. Another partner, Alice Hardy, represents the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, which is based in Ramallah.
These organizations, closely affiliated with Bindmans, have submitted numerous notices to the ICC concerning various Palestinian issues. Additionally, Bindmans has connections to Khan’s brother, Imran Ahmad Khan, and is reported to have supported his involvement in an inquiry related to the detention of two Saudi citizens by the regime. Imran Ahmad Khan, a former British MP, is a convicted sex offender who was expelled from his party and sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
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The scandal surrounding Prosecutor Karim Khan came to light last month when the British Daily Mail reported that an employee, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by Khan, confided in a colleague. That colleague then informed senior officials at the ICC about the incident. Following this revelation, Reuters reported last week that the ICC would be launching an external investigation into the allegations, and there were calls for Khan to step down while the inquiry takes place.
On Monday evening of November 11, the ICC officially announced that the external investigation against Khan would proceed. In a separate statement, Khan indicated that he would continue to fulfill his duties on matters unrelated to the investigation, with his deputies handling issues specifically tied to the inquiry.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal suggested that Khan’s recent requests for arrest warrants might be seen as a “diversion tactic” aimed at drawing attention away from the ongoing sexual harassment scandal.
Attempts to reach Khan’s office for clarification on whether his choice to be represented by pro-Palestinian lawyers affects his commitment to impartiality went unanswered. His spokesperson declined to comment and directed inquiries to Bindmans, which also did not respond.
One informed source remarked that “Khan’s decision to hire this law firm shows a lack of judgment. While he may have temporarily diverted attention from allegations that his request for arrest warrants was an attempt to overshadow the sexual harassment scandal, calls for his dismissal are likely to resurface at the upcoming ICC member states conference in two weeks. By selecting this representation, Khan is aligning himself with some of the most prominent and vocal advocates for Palestinian causes.”
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