Ankara, SANA-Legal experts described Western pressure and threats directed at the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan concerning arrest warrants issued against Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu as “a serious threat” to the future of international justice.

Both the ICC and its attorney general were designated under US sanctions list following the investigation Khan, opened against Netanyahu, on the grounds that he committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

On November 21, 2024, Khan issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his dismissed defense minister, Yoav Galant over war crimes perpetuated against Palestinians in Gaza Strip in the ongoing war waged by Israeli occupation in October 2023.

Anadolu Agency cited legal experts in its report that “the pressure campaign against Khan is one of the most serious threats addressing the international justice system, and we call on states to take urgent steps to protect the International Criminal Court”.

Kenneth Roth, former director of Human Rights Watch, told the agency that “Attacks on the ICC have reached unprecedented levels that could shake the foundations of international justice,”.

Roth pointed out that “the US sanctions imposed on the court prevented its employees from accessing the banking system,” calling on “the European Union to protect the court and its employees’ bank accounts.”

For his part, academic Mark Kersten said, “Systematic sanctions and pressure against ICC officials could cause irreparable damage to international justice” adding “these steps harm the court and have the potential to cause irreparable damage.”

Kersten clarified that some of these actions have led to good people leaving the court and their work, people who could have played an important role in the investigations and prosecution of perpetrators of international crimes

Human rights professor Susan Akram said that Threats to international justice have reached unprecedented levels, but the Rome Statute gives the court tools to counter these interferences.

An investigation published by the Middle East Eye website about a week ago highlighted the intimidation campaign being waged against the court and its prosecutor.

Noura /Mazen Eyon