Con job': Netanyahu celebrates ICC prosecutor's dismissal after arrest warrant battle

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the dismissal of International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan, calling him a "con job" after Khan was removed over allegations of sexual misconduct."I welcome the decision, supported by an overwhelming majority of countries, to remove Karim Khan," Netanyahu said in a statement.Speaking on Fox News, Netanyahu claimed Khan had filed charges against him to distract from his own alleged crimes. "He thought, if there's an indictment, I'm going to have a job. There was an indictment, and he lost his job. He lost his job because he was removed by a vast majority of nations who knew that he was a con job."Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu Khan had successfully pushed in 2024 for Netanyahu and Gallant to be charged with alleged war crimes over the Gaza war. The ICC said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe they "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine."The move, which sparked the ire of Israel's ally the United States, complicated Netanyahu's travels to countries that are members of the Hague-based court.Khan was suspended last month by a key governing body of the ICC. In a vote on Friday at UN headquarters in New York, 82 of 125 members voted by secret ballot for his removal for "serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty."Khan has denied all accusations of wrongdoing. His lawyer said he plans to challenge the decision "through all available legal mechanisms."Netanyahu also targets MamdaniNetanyahu also took aim at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously expressed his desire to arrest the Israeli premier if he visited the city but admitted this week he did not have such authority.Khan's dismissal shows that Mamdani was basing his pursuit on "bogus charges," Netanyahu claimed, while also accusing the mayor of "fomenting hate" against Jews.Netanyahu said he intends to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. "I intend to come and speak the truth, speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance from the podium of the United Nations,"Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

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