Statement released after Israeli and US officials rebuked the court over possible arrest warrants related to the Gaza war.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s office has called for an end to intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute a breach of the “administration of justice” of the world’s permanent war crimes court.
The Hague-based office of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement on Friday that any attempts to obstruct, intimidate or unduly influence its officials must cease immediately.
While the prosecutor’s statement did not mention Israel, it was issued after Israeli and U.S. officials warned of consequences for the ICC if it issues arrest warrants over Israel’s war on Gaza.
“The office is committed to working constructively with all stakeholders whenever such dialogue is consistent with its mandate under the Rome Statute to act independently and impartially,” Khan’s office said.
“However, this independence and impartiality is undermined when individuals threaten to retaliate against the Court or against court personnel should the Office, in fulfillment of its mandate, make decisions on investigations or cases falling within its remit.”
It added that the Rome Statute, which outlines the structure and jurisdiction of the ICC, prohibits threats against the court and its officials.
statement of #ICC Office of the Attorney General pic.twitter.com/Cw331pMcDm
— International Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) May 3, 2024
Last week, media reports suggested that the ICC may issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the country’s behavior in Gaza.
The court can prosecute individuals for suspected war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The Israeli military has killed nearly 35,000 people in the Gaza Strip and destroyed large parts of the territory since the war began on October 7.
News of possible International Criminal Court charges against Israeli officials sparked fierce opposition from the country and its allies in the United States.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu released a video message in which he rebuked the court. “Israel expects the leaders of the free world to stand firmly against the ICC’s outrageous attack on Israel’s inherent right to self-defense,” he said.
“We expect them to use all means at their disposal to stop this dangerous move.”
In Washington, several lawmakers called on President Joe Biden to intervene and thwart any ICC action against Israel.
“It would be a fatal blow to the legal and moral standing of the ICC to pursue this path against Israel,” Democratic Senator John Fetterman wrote in a social media post this week.
“I’m calling [Biden] to intervene as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to Israel.”
In 2021, the Biden administration lifted US sanctions against ICC officials imposed by former President Donald Trump.
Israel and the United States have not ratified the Rome Statute, but Palestine, a permanent observer state at the United Nations, has accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
The court has been investigating possible Israeli abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories since 2021. Khan said his team was investigating suspected war crimes in the ongoing war in Gaza.
In October, Khan said the court would have jurisdiction over all potential war crimes committed by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israeli forces in Gaza.