The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday issued a warning to “individuals who threaten reprisals” – it or its staff -, saying that such actions could constitute an “attack on the administration of justice “. The Hague-based office of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said it seeks to “engage constructively with all stakeholders whenever dialogue is consistent with its mandate”, in a statement published on X.
The ICC calls for an “immediate” end to “attempts to obstruct, intimidate or unduly influence its officials”
“This independence and impartiality are, however, undermined when individuals threaten to take reprisals against the Court or against Court staff” in the event of “decisions” on investigations falling within its mandate, he said. he adds. “Such threats, even if they are not followed through, can constitute an attack on the administration of justice” by the ICC, he warns.
The ICC calls for an “immediate” end to “attempts to obstruct, intimidate or unduly influence its officials”. Karim Khan’s services did not want to specify to AFP who these threats emanated from and whether they were linked to Israel and the war in Gaza. The ICC opened an investigation in 2021 into Israel, as well as Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, for possible war crimes in the Palestinian Territories.
It has now extended it “to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks of October 7, 2023” perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil. Israeli officials told the New York Times that they expect the ICC to issue arrest warrants against members of the Israeli government – which could include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – in connection with Israel’s military operations in Gaza responds to Hamas attack.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Wednesday that a possible indictment of Israeli officials by the ICC would represent “a danger for democracies”. Benjamin Netanyahu judged that the possible issuance of such arrest warrants would aim to “threaten Israel’s leaders and soldiers, essentially to paralyze Israel’s ability to defend itself.” The October 7 attack resulted in the death of 1,170 people, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.
The large-scale offensive carried out in retaliation by Israel in the Gaza Strip left 34,622 dead, mainly civilians, according to a latest report from Hamas on Friday.