'Court built for Africa and thugs like Putin': top officials told Khan
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ICC prosecutor Karim Khan revealed he received threats during his investigations against the Israeli occupation Prime Minister and his security minister.
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Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court prior to a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, July 3, 2023. (AP)
The ICC prosecutor Karim Khan revealed, in an exclusive CNN interview, that he received threats during his investigations against top Israeli officials.
He shared in the interview, "I've had some elected leaders speak to me and they were very blunt. 'This court is built for Africa and for thugs like Putin,' was what one senior leader told me."
"We don’t do it like that," he said, emphasizing the court's purpose, "This court should be the triumph of law, over power and brute force: grab what you can take what you want, do what you will."
A senior Western official threatened ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, saying, "the court is meant for Africa and thugs like Putin."
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) May 21, 2024
Khan reportedly received threats while conducting investigations against high-ranking Israeli officials. pic.twitter.com/LPSYw3dRu5
The ICC is seeking arrest warrants for the Israeli occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammad Deif.
Charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include "causing extermination, using starvation as a method of war by denying humanitarian relief supplies, and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict."
Khan stressed, "Nobody is above the law," and advised "Israel" to "challenge the jurisdiction before the court judges" if they disagree with the ICC, but emphasized that "Nobody is above the law."
Biden denies genocide allegations against 'Israel' after ICC warrants
US President Joe Biden said during a press conference that despite the ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli occupation leaders, "Israel" is not committing genocide in Gaza.
"Israel must do all it can to ensure civilian protection, but let me be clear, contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Criminal Court of Justice, what's happening is not genocide, we reject that," Biden said on Monday.
Earlier, Biden had criticized the International Criminal Court's move to seek arrest warrants for Israeli occupation officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling it "outrageous".
Biden cited an alleged absence of equivalence between "Israel" and Hamas as he affirmed unwavering support for "Israel's" security.
"And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," Biden said in a statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed similar sentiments by questioning the court's jurisdiction and its process in applying for the warrants.
"Fundamentally, this decision does nothing to help, and could jeopardize, ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that would get hostages out and surge humanitarian assistance in," Blinken said.
Read more: Norway FM says Israeli officials to be arrested if ICC issues warrants
