A leading international human rights organisation has issued a statement urging EU Member States to defend the International Criminal Court (ICC) from attacks while it investigates alleged atrocities in Israel and Palestine.
Back in May, ICC prosecutors in The Hague filed applications for arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
After the application was filed, the pre-trial chamber judges should decide whether the conditions are met for issuing these warrants. Yet, according to the FIDH, the long delay is due to significant pressure on the court by Israel and its main ally, the United States.
Tactics include threats of defunding, disinformation campaigns, and allegations of antisemitism aimed at undermining the court’s independence.
The FIDH urges EU Member States to use all available means, primarily diplomatic efforts with the United States, and if necessary, sanctions or the use of blocking statutes to protect the ICC.
"They must understand that threats against the ICC are unacceptable and that its independence is non-negotiable."
If the arrest warrants are approved by a panel of judges, it will be up to the 124 member states – including most European countries, but not the United States or Israel – to carry out the arrests.
"International law should be the guiding principle, but currently, it is not," says Alexis Deswaef, Vice-president of the FIDH. "The current issue is the complete impunity that continues to fuel future war crimes."
