The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, revealed that he has been subjected to threats during his efforts to investigate high-ranking Israeli officials, amid allegations of bias against the court. During an interview with CNN, Khan disclosed a conversation with a senior official who crudely suggested that the ICC was intended to prosecute African nations and figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than Western countries and their allies.
Khan emphasized that the ICC stands for the rule of law over power and force, stating, “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.”
The prosecutor also mentioned that the ICC is currently pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with several top leaders from Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohamed Deif. The charges against Israeli officials involve allegations of extermination and intentionally targeting civilians during the conflict, while the accusations against the Hamas leaders include extermination, murder, and sexual violence.
Highlighting the legal mechanisms of the ICC, Khan advised that any disputes over the court’s jurisdiction could be challenged directly before its judges.
This comes as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, defying a UN Security Council resolution that demands a cease-fire. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 35,500 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, and left significant parts of Gaza devastated, with severe shortages of basic necessities due to a blockade.
