Covert operation targeted ICC prosecutor's accuser linked to Qatar: Report

An investigation reveals that private British intelligence firms reportedly gathered sensitive information on the woman who accused Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), of misconduct.

The Guardian reported on Thursday that the woman who accused Khan of sexual abuse has been the subject of a covert operation initiated on behalf of the Qatari government.

The operation involved at least two British private intelligence firms. Documents obtained by The Guardian indicate that one of these firms sought sensitive data, including the woman’s passport details and information about her child.

Khan, a prominent British lawyer, has denied the woman's sexual abuse accusations against him, with some close to him saying the allegations are part of a smear campaign backed by Israel following Khan's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024.

On May 20, 2024, Khan formally applied for arrest warrants against former minister Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu for crimes against humanity, including the starvation of civilians and the targeting of protected populations. Six months later, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Gallant and Netanyahu.

An ICC lawyer linked to an advisor to Netanyahu threatened Karim  that if he did not withdraw the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, he and the ICC would be “destroyed.”

The warning was delivered to Khan during a private meeting in The Hague on May 1, 2024, by Nicholas Kaufman, a British-Israeli lawyer who currently defends former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC.

This attempt at intimidation is not an isolated incident. It follows a pattern of political interference, pressure, and threats aimed at protecting Israel from international accountability.

In February, the US imposed personal sanctions on Khan, revoked his visa, and froze his assets. His family has also been barred from entering the US. In June, four ICC judges who approved the arrest warrants were also sanctioned by the US.

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The intrusive operation was reportedly spearheaded by Highgate, a strategic advisory firm that operates discreetly out of London’s Mayfair district.

Highgate, which advises high-profile executives and political leaders, reportedly collaborated with another firm to explore potential ties between the woman and Israeli interests.

Sources indicate that the operation was sanctioned by a high-level diplomatic unit within the Qatari state.

The woman, who is a lawyer working for the ICC, expressed her distress over the situation, stating, "The idea that private intelligence firms have been instructed to target me is as incomprehensible as it is heartbreaking."

In a statement to The Guardian, Highgate acknowledged its involvement in a project related to the ICC but insisted that it did not act against any individual and claimed its work was not commissioned by the Qatari government.

Khan’s tenure as ICC prosecutor has faced unprecedented turmoil since the allegations against him became public, prompting an ongoing UN inquiry into his conduct.

The accusations allege coercive sexual behavior and abuse of authority, with incidents reportedly occurring in his office, during work trips, and at his home. In a development earlier this year, a second woman came forward with allegations of mistreatment during her time as an unpaid intern under Khan.

Khan has categorically denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he is the victim of a coordinated effort to discredit him. Still, the repercussions of these allegations have heightened scrutiny of his leadership and put the ICC at the center of a geopolitical storm, particularly as the court moves forward with investigations into Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

The private intelligence operation reportedly began early this year, with evidence suggesting that senior Highgate employees were aware that the ultimate client was a Qatari entity.

Described documents show that Highgate sought detailed "sensitive" information on both the woman and her family members, including her potential links to Israel.

Highgate employed a specialist firm, Elicius Intelligence, to assist in gathering intelligence on the woman and other ICC officials involved in the response to the allegations.

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Several reports containing private details about the woman’s life were generated, raising ethical concerns about the methods employed in the operation.

The situation has left the alleged victim frustrated as she awaits the conclusions of the ongoing UN inquiry.

“If this is what international justice looks like, it is not the system that I have dedicated my life to serving,” she lamented, underscoring her commitment to the cause despite the challenges she faces.

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