Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
PSNA has written to the Prime Minister today urging the government to vote against the removal of the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, and instead insist that proper judicial process be followed regarding allegations made against him.
“This is a pivotal moment for the International Criminal Court and New Zealand must stand up for our values and our support for international law” says PSNA Spokesperson Rinad Tamimi. “We are not making any judgement on the allegations against Mr Khan, but New Zealand must insist a proper judicial process be followed”
When allegations were made against Khan, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), was asked by the president of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to gather evidence from the alleged victims. Between November 2024 and December 2025 more than 5,000 pages of evidence was gathered. The ICC then established a Judicial Panel, comprising three eminent judges selected by the Bureau of the ASP, to analyse the evidence.
After doing so this Judicial Panel declared they were “unanimously of the opinion that the factual findings by OIOS do not establish misconduct or breach of duty under the relevant legal framework”.
Tamimi says that Now Israel and the US are rejecting the Judicial Panel findings.
“They are blatantly lobbying to remove Karim Khan because he sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for ‘war crimes and crimes against humanity’.”
This intensive Israel/US diplomatic bullying has succeeded in having the Judicial Panel findings set aside in favour of a decision to remove Karim Khan being made by the full Assembly of State Parties (ASP) in which New Zealand will vote.
“Karim Khan’s position must be decided through a legal process, not a political process dictated by Israeli/US lobbying” says Tamimi. “New Zealand has already failed numerous times to uphold international law in the face of Israeli/US pressure.”
“They must not throw in the towel again.”
“In October last year, Foreign Minister Winston Peters issued a formal statement, with Nordic ministers in Stockholm, to ‘reaffirm our unwavering support for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court’.”
“You can’t pick and choose when you will support international law, and when you can disregard it,” says Tamimi. “New Zealand must do the right thing at the ICC this week.”
Rinad Tamimi
National Spokesperson
PSNA