[Salon] ICC prosecutor says Israel must respect international law | Reuters

[Todd Pierce <todd.e.pierce@icloud.com>]

Wait until Trump returns; he’ll make short shrift of the ICC Prosecutor. Like he did with his predecessor, as described by the Guardian below. The same with the ICJ (which will be the same whether Trump or Biden, but Trump will be more jubilant in saying it). To paraphrase Andrew Jackson, one of his role models; “The ICJ has made their decision, now let them enforce it."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/11/trump-icc-us-war-crimes-investigation-sanctions

"Trump targets ICC with sanctions after court opens war crimes investigation”

"The Trump administration has launched an economic and legal offensive on the international criminal court in response to the court’s decision to open an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan carried out by all sides, including the US.

. . .

"Barr made clear that this was the beginning of a sustained campaign against the ICC, and that Thursday’s measures were just an “important first step in holding the ICC accountable for exceeding its mandate and violating the sovereignty of the United States”.

. . . 

"Judges at the ICC gave the green light in March to an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan, and began an investigation into crimes by Israeli and Palestinian forces in December. In his remarks, Pompeo made clear the US sanctions were also aimed at defending Israel.

“Given Israel’s robust civilian and military legal system and strong track record of investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing by military personnel, it’s clear the ICC is only putting Israel in his crosshairs for nakedly political purposes,” Pompeo said.

"Human rights activists say that the Israel Defence Forces have operated with virtual impunity in the West Bank and Gaza."

Play to the tune of “Mama Don’t Allow It;”  “Trump don't care what ICC don't allow, he’s gonna commit those war crimes anyhow!” (Granting impunity, a war crime.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/icc-prosecutor-urges-israel-hamas-respect-international-law-2023-12-03/

ICC prosecutor says Israel must respect international law

December 3, 202312:09 PM MSTUpdated 2 months ago

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

AMSTERDAM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday called on Israel to respect the international rules of war and said he was accelerating his investigation into violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

"In Gaza, there is no justification for doctors to perform operations without light, for children to be operated upon without anaesthetics. Imagine the pain," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a video message posted online after a four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

"I was crystal clear, that this is the time to comply with the law. If Israel doesn't comply now, they shouldn't complain later."

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas and says its aim in Gaza is to destroy targets linked to the group, while urging civilians to leave those areas. The Iranian-backed Hamas is meanwhile sworn to Israel's destruction.

Khan also called on Hamas to respect the rules of war and to not misuse any humanitarian aid that is brought into the besieged Gaza strip.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

"Civilians must have access to basic food, water and desperately needed medical supplies, without further delay, and at pace and at scale."

The ICC prosecutor said atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 were "some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity," and said his court was ready to assist Israel in investigating them and prosecuting those responsible.

At the same time, he said violence by settlers in the West Bank was "unacceptable" and could also not go unpunished.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

"We have been investigating and we are accelerating investigations," he said of the situation in the West Bank.

"No Israeli settler armed with an ideology and a gun can think it's open season against Palestinians."

Israel is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognise its jurisdiction. But Khan in October stressed his court had jurisdiction over potential war crimes carried out by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israelis in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC has had an ongoing investigation in the occupied Palestinian territories into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity there since 2021.

Accusations of war crimes and human rights abuses have been made on both sides since Hamas gunmen overran several Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and seizing around 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

In response, Israel launched air strikes and an invasion by tanks and ground troops in the enclave, killing more than 15,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Bernadette Baum and David Holmes

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Acquire Licensing Rights