THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court prosecutor warned on Friday against unspecified threats and intimidation, amid reports that Zionist entity is concerned the tribunal could issue arrest warrants over the war in Gaza. The Hague-based ICC did not say if the comment related to its investigation into possible war crimes by Zionist or Palestinian groups in Gaza and the West Bank. The office of ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on X, formerly Twitter, that it was aware of “significant public interest” in its activities and said it sought to “engage constructively with all stakeholders.”

But it added that the court’s “independence and impartiality are undermined, however, when individuals threaten to retaliate against the court or against court personnel.”Such threats, even not acted upon, may constitute an offence” against the ICC’s “administration of justice”, it warned, calling for an end to such activity.

Khan’s office declined to say where the threats had come from and which investigation was concerned, when questioned by AFP. US and Zionist media reports have suggested the ICC prosecutor could issue warrants against both Zionist politicians - including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - and Hamas leaders. Netanyahu said Wednesday on X that the ICC was “contemplating issuing arrest warrants against senior Zionist government and military officials as war criminals”.

“This would be an outrage of historic proportions,” he said, alleging that the ICC was “trying to put Zionists in the dock”. The Axios news outlet has reported that Zionists warned Washington it would take retaliatory steps against the Palestinian Authority that could lead to its collapse if the ICC issues arrest warrants. US members of Congress had also warned of retaliation by Washington, Axios reported. The United States says it also opposes the ICC probe into conduct in Gaza, arguing it has no jurisdiction.

‘Oppose any threats’

Neither the United States nor Zionists are members of the court. The White House reiterated that position on Friday, while condemning any threats against the ICC. “We obviously oppose any threats or intimidation to public officials, including ICC officials,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.

She said she would not comment on “what could be next and if we would weigh in if they were to move forward” with charges. In 2020 the administration of then-president Donald Trump targeted the ICC with sanctions over its investigation into Afghanistan. The Biden administration lifted them. One legal expert said the statement by the ICC’s office of the prosecutor (OTP) was likely related to the “ongoing investigation in Palestine” given recent Zionist government statements about “threats to the Palestinian Authority in response to the potential issuance of arrest warrants”.

Zionist entity’s reported retaliatory steps were aimed at the Palestinian authorities, “not at the ICC or the OTP”, said Gabriele Chlevickaite, a researcher at the Hague-based Asser Institute for international law. However, “some statements by Zionist officials could be interpreted as threatening the OTP officials indirectly and, or, interfering with the investigation,” she told AFP.

This would not only be an offence under the court’s founding Rome Statute “but a blatant disregard of the rule of law,” Chlevickaite added. The ICC opened a probe in 2021, as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups, over possible war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories. — AFP