A British law chief seeking the prosecution of Israel for war crimes told the woman he is accused of sexually assaulting that she would be harming Palestinians if she didn’t drop the allegations, according to reports.

Karim Khan KC, 55, who has served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2021, has spearheaded movements to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Khan last year announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his then-defence minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The Mail on Sunday first revealed that Mr Khan lodged the application for the arrest warrants two weeks after discovering he himself had been accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague.

And a new Wall Street Journal investigation claims to have heard recordings of a telephone call – which forms a United Nations (UN) investigation into the claims – where Mr Khan can allegedly be heard pleading for the victim to drop the allegations by using the plight of Palestinians as leverage.

He is said to have told the complainant: ‘The casualties [of her allegations] will unfortunately be three: You and your family, me and my family and the justice of the victims.’ 

On another occasion, he reportedly told her: ‘Think about the Palestinian arrest warrants,’ according to another alleged testimony to the UN.

The newspaper alleges that Mr Khan pressured the complainant – believed to be a Malaysian woman in her 30s – into having ‘non-consensual sexual intercourse’ on numerous occasions.

Karim Khan KC (pictured), who has served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021, has spearheaded movements to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Mr Khan last year announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu (right) and his then-defence minister, Yoav Gallant (left) on charges of alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza 

In one testimony to the UN in December 2023, claims were said to have been made that the the woman was called to Mr Khan’s suite at the Millennium Hotel, New York.

She reportedly claimed that despite trying to leave the room several times, Mr Khan would make repeated sexual advances before pulling her to the bed and forcing her to have intercourse.

The woman, who is married with a child, is alleged to have told UN investigators that she felt ‘trapped’ by the behaviour.

It is reported that Mr Khan behaved similarly on work trips with the colleague to Colombia, Congo, Chad and Paris, and at a residence owned by his wife in The Hague – where the ICC is headquartered.

The alleged victim – who is also a lawyer – reportedly said she was reluctant to complain because she did not want to risk losing her prestigious job.

She is also said to have been concerned over the financial impact it would have on her ability to pay medical bills for her mother, who was dying of cancer. 

Mr Khan’s lawyers told the Wall Street Journal that it was ‘categorically untrue that he has engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind’.

The complainant reportedly claimed that despite trying to leave the room several times, Mr Khan (above) would make repeated sexual advances before pulling her to the bed and forcing her to have intercourse

It is reported that Mr Khan (above) behaved similarly on work trips with the colleague to Colombia, Congo, Chad and Paris, and at a residence owned by his wife in The Hague – where the ICC is headquartered

The newspaper added that the UN is reportedly investigating whether Mr Khan attempted to threaten those who reported his alleged misconduct, information they say came from ICC officials.

Mr Khan’s lawyers are claimed to have said their client informed the US State Department of his motion to seek an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu before the  allegations were made against him.

They also said that Mr Khan was seeking an external investigation into the allegations.

The father-of-two was elected as the ICC prosecutor in 2021 – the first Briton to hold the high-profile role.

In 2023 he was instrumental in the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin put him on a ‘wanted’ list. 

But his announcement on May 20, 2023, that he had asked judges for arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant – along with Hamas terror leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh – sparked worldwide condemnation.

In 2023 Mr Khan was instrumental in the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin (above) – the Kremlin put him on a ‘wanted’ list

Mr Khan’s announcement that he had asked judges for arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant – along with Hamas terror leaders Yahiya Sinwar (right), Mohammed Deif (centre) and Ismail Haniyeh (left) – sparked worldwide condemnation

In a furious statement, former US President Joe Biden said: ‘…let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.’

Mr Netanyahu called it a ‘moral outrage of historic proportions’, while Mr Gallant branded it ‘despicable’.

Rishi Sunak’s Government also issued a legal challenge, questioning the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens. 

In a move slammed by Jewish groups, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government later said it would not object to Khan’s request, saying the warrants were a matter for the courts to decide.

MailOnline has approached the ICC for comment.