The president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) addressed the institution’s annual meeting on Monday, emphasising that it will not yield to pressure from the United States or Russia. Recently, nine staff members, including six judges and the court’s chief prosecutor, have been sanctioned by US President Donald Trump for their investigations into US and Israeli officials. In a reciprocal move, Russia has issued arrest warrants for ICC staff in response to an arrest warrant issued for President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Judge Tomoko Akane stated, “We never accept any kind of pressure,” while addressing delegations from the court’s 125 member states.
The sanctions imposed on ICC personnel have negatively affected the court’s ability to conduct a range of investigations amid increasing demands on its resources. In her remarks last year, Judge Akane expressed concern that the court was being intimidated by the incoming Trump administration. Notably, three weeks after taking office for his second term, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on Prosecutor Karim Khan due to his investigations into Israel, a close ally of the United States.
The court has recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes associated with Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the tragic Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. The ICC’s weeklong meeting commenced on Monday, with business on the agenda that includes approving the court’s budget amid mounting pressures and unfavourable media coverage.
Established in 2002, the ICC serves as the world’s permanent court of last resort for prosecuting individuals responsible for egregious crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. It is important to note that the United States, Israel, Russia, and China are among the nations that do not recognise ICC jurisdiction. The court typically acts only when member states are unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes within their own jurisdictions. Lacking an independent police force, the ICC relies on member states to execute its arrest warrants.
In addition to the challenges posed by sanctions and arrest warrants, Prosecutor Khan has temporarily stepped down while an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct is ongoing; he has publicly denied these allegations. Päivi Kaukoranta, the president of the Assembly of States Parties, acknowledged in her opening remarks that the investigation into Khan and a female aide has lasted longer than anticipated, expressing awareness of the frustration among member states regarding the timeline. As of now, no specific date has been set for the conclusion of this investigation.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
