ICC reports coercion, threats over Netanyahu, Gallant arrest warrants
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ICC has sounded the alarm over significant challenges it is facing after issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Security Minister over war crimes in Gaza.
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ICC President Tomoko Akane during an address in the Hague (AP)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported facing coercion and intimidation following its issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Security Minister, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza.
During an address in The Hague, ICC President Tomoko Akane highlighted the challenges faced by the court, stating it had endured "coercive measures, threats, pressure, and acts of sabotage."
She warned, "We are at a turning point in history... International law and international justice are under threat. So is the future of humanity."
Akane reaffirmed the court’s commitment to its mission, emphasizing, "The International Criminal Court will continue to carry out its lawful mandate, independently and impartially, without giving in to any outside interference."
The arrest warrants, issued on November 21, were based on findings that "Israel's" siege and assault on Gaza had created conditions likely to result in the destruction of part of the civilian population.
The decision was met with swift rejection by the United States, a staunch ally of "Israel". President Joe Biden dismissed the warrants as “outrageous", while some Republican lawmakers urged sanctions against the ICC.
In her remarks, Akane also revealed that "several elected officials are being severely threatened and are subjected to arrest warrants from a permanent member of the UN Security Council."
Moreover, the ICC President revealed that the court is facing severe pressure, including "draconian economic sanctions from institutions of another permanent member of the Security Council as if it was a terrorist organization."
She criticized the reaction of some countries, stating it is “appalling” that they appear "scandalized" when the ICC issues arrest warrants grounded in international law.
Akane warned of the grave consequences for global justice, saying, "If the court collapses, this will inevitably imply the collapse of all situations and cases... The danger for the court is existential.”
Meanwhile, DAWN, a US-based human rights group supporting the ICC’s arrest warrants, cautioned that Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, could also face accountability in the future.
ICC prosecutor: No legal grounds to suspend arrest warrants for Israeli official
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, has lately urged the dismissal of "Israel’s" appeal regarding the arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.
In a document published on the ICC website, Khan argued that the appeal is premature and not legally admissible at this stage, although an appeal could be possible later in the legal process.
"Israel" had submitted a direct appeal to the ICC’s Appeals Chamber, contesting the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on "Israel’s" jurisdictional challenge under Article 19(2) of the Rome Statute. However, Khan clarified that the court's decision does not qualify as a ruling "with respect to jurisdiction" and is therefore not subject to direct appeal under Article 82(1)(a) of the Statute.
“The Decision is not a decision ‘with respect to jurisdiction,’ and it is therefore not directly appealable under article 82(1)(a) of the Statute,” Khan stated.
He emphasized that the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision prevents "Israel" from filing a jurisdictional challenge until a determination is made under Article 58 of the Rome Statute but acknowledged that such a challenge could be pursued later if the condition is met.
Khan called for the dismissal of the appeal and rejection of "Israel’s" request to suspend the arrest warrants. “Accordingly, these appeal proceedings should be discontinued, and Israel’s Suspension Request be rejected while the proceedings before Pre-Trial Chamber with respect to the same Decision follow their course,” he added.
He firmly concluded, “In any event, there is no legal basis to suspend the arrest warrants issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber.”
