After Israeli-American threats, the Criminal Court demands an end to the intimidation of its employees

After Israeli and American threats to the investigations conducted by the International Criminal Court regarding Israel committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, the Public Prosecutor called on the court to stop what he described as intimidation of its workers, stressing that this constitutes a crime against the court.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the Court said, in a statement published on the X website, that all attempts to obstruct the work of employees, intimidate them, or influence them inappropriately must stop immediately. He added that the Rome Statute, which defines the structure of the court and its areas of jurisdiction, prohibits such actions.

On Friday, the court issued the statement, which did not mention specific cases, after Israeli and American threats to the investigations it is conducting into Israel committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Israel and the United States are not members of the court and do not recognize its jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories.

The court can try individuals for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.

Last week, Israel expressed concerns that the court may be preparing to issue arrest warrants against government officials on charges related to the conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed Israel's expectations that the court "will refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that any court decisions would not affect Israel's actions, but would set a dangerous precedent.

Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the Court, stated that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over any possible war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

A White House spokesman said last Monday that the court does not have jurisdiction “in this situation and we do not support the investigation it is conducting.”