American actor Mark Ruffalo called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 'murderous maniac' on social media platform X. The statement comes after International Criminal Court (ICC) member states voted to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
Ruffalo stated that lobbying to remove Khan does not mean the war crimes disappear or his guilt is assuaged. He said Netanyahu 'will not outrun justice' and 'will not lobby history'.
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan had previously requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Over 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Dismissal over misconduct allegations
ICC member states voted to dismiss Khan over sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies. On July 24, 2025, the ICC Assembly of States Parties voted in secret to remove Khan for 'serious misconduct and breach of duty' under Article 46 of the Rome Statute.
Khan voluntarily took leave in May 2025 after sexual misconduct allegations emerged. An independent panel of three judges from the ICC found no misconduct by Khan.
Karim Khan's lawyers argued that he was not given a defense or accreditation opportunity, and the process was unlawful, procedurally unfair, and unsupported by evidence. Khan was elected ICC chief prosecutor in February 2021 and sworn in on June 16, 2021, as the third prosecutor.