Karim Khan’s Legal Troubles Deepen: The Jerusalem District Court has issued a judgment against the former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The ruling was handed down in the absence of a defense following a lawsuit filed by Shurat HaDin on behalf of the families of hostages. Attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner stated: "We will take action to enforce the full judgment at his place of residence in England."
November 15, 2026, The Jerusalem District Court has ruled that Karim Khan, the former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, must pay 25 million shekels to families of Israelis taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 terror attacks.
The judgment stems from a lawsuit filed by the organization Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center on behalf of Eitan Mor, as well as the families of Avinatan Or and Omri Miran. Judge Eran Shilo issued the ruling after the statement of claim was duly served to Khan, yet he failed to submit a statement of defense.
This is a precedent-setting ruling as no such judgment has ever been issued in Israel against a Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
The lawsuit was filed last year, while the three hostages were still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs argued that Khan’s conduct assisted Hamas in continuing to hold the hostages.
Among other elements, they argued that Khan delayed requesting arrest warrants for senior Hamas officials and refrained from seeking warrants against senior figures in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad—a group that, they allege, held hostages and subjected them to abuse.
Shurat HaDin emphasizes that it intends to pursue the collection of the full amount awarded in the judgment. According to the organization, Khan currently resides in England; the organization plans to seek enforcement of the judgment there, utilizing established legal mechanisms for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat HaDin, stated, "Thanks to this historic ruling, prosecutors and judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague now know that if they act unlawfully, they will be held personally liable—paying out of their own pockets.
Just as the Trump administration imposed administrative sanctions upon them, victims of terrorism will now ensure these individuals pay the price for their actions."
Darshan-Leitner, who represents victims of the October 7th massacre, added, "Had Karim Khan acted in accordance with the law, our hostages could have returned home much sooner. Consequently, we will compel him to pay for the hell they endured while held captive in Gaza."
In collaboration with Shurat HaDin