Israel/Palestine

In an order issued behind closed doors this month, ICC judges are understood to have told the prosecutor, Karim Khan, he can no longer make public announcements referring to the existence of his applications for arrest warrants or his intention to seek them.

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The flurry of announcements came as Khan faced the prospect of US economic sanctions against him – which materialised in February – and in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against him by a member of his staff. Khan has denied the allegations, which external investigators are now examining.

According to court officials with knowledge of internal discussions, the publicity generated by Khan’s statements has frustrated ICC judges and staff within the prosecutor’s office due to concerns his actions have departed from routine practice and placed pressure on the judges considering the applications. In their secret order in the Palestine case, the judges have blocked publicity that even alludes to the filing of applications for arrest warrants, and ordered Khan to refrain from disclosing any forthcoming requests unless he receives their permission.

A separate panel of ICC judges had issued a similar order in at least one other case, three sources said, in an apparent sign of a wider crackdown on Khan’s approach.