Qatar has denied Israeli allegations that Doha supports International Criminal Court (ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan) in exchange for the prosecution of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it "an attempt to evade international accountability."
This came in a statement issued by the International Information Office of Qatar, which said that it was "about false media reports concerning the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court."
"Recent attempts to involve the name of the State of Qatar in inappropriate discussions with ICC officials, which relate to flimsy allegations about possible arrest warrants against Israeli officials, are completely untrue," the International Information Office said.
"These false accusations and false allegations were made by Israeli officials who have been spreading misleading information about the State of Qatar through selective leaks to serve their personal interests, and they have been repeatedly refuted and have always been proven to be untrue," he said.
"It has become clear and clear that these individuals are striving at any cost to escape legal accountability at the domestic and international levels for past violations of international law, and are falsely casting Qatar's name to divert attention from their behavior and falsifying facts in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid being subject to legal scrutiny," the statement said.
"Qatar is not their only target, and these officials have long been known to carry out covert campaigns that include the promotion of fabricated documents, audio recordings and videos to achieve their ulterior goals and premeditated intentions," he said.
"Qatar will remain vigilant to these allegations and accusations sent, and will continue to defend its reputation as it moves forward towards achieving peace and stability in the region," the statement added.
In addition to his domestic trial in corruption cases, the ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest in 2024 on charges of war crimes and other crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during a genocidal war that began on October 8, 2023.
Wall Street Journal: Qatar intervenes in ICC
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday (April 26) revealed allegations that Qatari officials offered to "sponsor" International Criminal Court (ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan) in exchange for proceeding with the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in a move the newspaper described as "of sensitive political and intelligence implications."
According to a report published by the newspaper, which was based on a "witness statement" and leaked audio recordings, Qatari officials told Khan that they would "sponsor" or "sponsor" him if he issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
The "promise" came at a time when Khan was facing internal pressure over accusations of "inappropriate sexual conduct," which Qatar allegedly used to provide him with protection in exchange for legal action against Israel.
Qatar has funded private intelligence companies, including Highgate andElicius Intelligence, to discredit the woman who accused Khan of harassment, with the aim of weakening the case against him and easing media and legal pressure on him, the report said.
Prosecutor Karim Khan's legal team categorically denied receiving any promises or support from any country, stressing that he "did not have any discussions with Qatari officials before issuing the arrest warrants" and that all his decisions were "based on purely legal criteria."
Who is Karim Khan?
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan is a British national of Pakistani descent and a member of the Ahmadi community, and his cultural and religious background has been part of the public debate about his career, especially as he has taken on politically and religiously sensitive files.
He is one of the most prominent names in international criminal law, having served as the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2021, becoming the third person to hold this position since the establishment of the court.
Khan was elected Attorney General in February 2021, and officially assumed his duties on June 16, 2021 for a 9-year term, and during his tenure, his name has emerged in sensitive international files, most notably the attempt to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with the war in Gaza, in addition to requesting arrest warrants against Hamas leaders, and he had previously issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in the context of the war in Gaza. Ukraine.
Between 2018 and 2021, he also led the United Nations Investigation Team on Crimes of ISIS in Iraq (UNITAD), a role that strengthened his international presence before his election to the ICC.
Khan began forced leave in May 2025 over allegations of sexual assault, while UN committees were reviewing complaints against him, and ICC member states voted in April 2026 to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against him, based on UN reports that found a "factual basis" for some of the misconduct accusations.