International Criminal Court prosecutors cautioned on Friday against individuals who threaten retaliation against the tribunal or its staff, warning that such actions could be considered an offense against its administration of justice.
The ICC did not specify whether this comment was related to its investigation into potential war crimes by Israel or Palestinian groups in Gaza and the West Bank.
Reports in the United States this week suggested that the ICC might issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that Netanyahu had urged President Joe Biden to prevent this.
On Friday, the office of ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague stated that it seeks to engage constructively with all stakeholders when dialogue aligns with its mandate.
However, it emphasized that independence and impartiality are undermined when individuals threaten retaliation against the court or its personnel based on its decisions within its mandate.
Such threats, even if not acted upon, may be considered an offense against the ICC’s administration of justice.
The office emphasized that any attempts to impede, intimidate, or improperly influence its officials must cease immediately.
Karim Khan’s office declined to answer questions about the origins of the threats of retaliation or whether they were related to the investigation into Israel and the Gaza crisis.
The ICC initiated an investigation in 2021 into Israel, Hamas, and other Palestinian groups, with Khan stating that this investigation now includes the escalation of hostilities and violence since Hamas attacks on October 7.
According to The New York Times, Israeli officials indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be among those charged by the court.
The ICC was also considering charges against Hamas leaders, as reported by the newspaper.
Several Israeli officials have recently denounced any ICC action against Israel as “outrageous.”
Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that the ICC’s consideration of arrest warrants against senior Israeli government and military officials as war criminals would be an “outrage of historic proportions,” alleging that the ICC was attempting to put Israel on trial.
The United States announced on Monday its opposition to the ICC’s investigation into Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The ICC is the world’s only independent court established to investigate the most serious offenses by individual suspects, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Previously, the ICC has issued warrants for national leaders, most recently for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine.
