ALBAWABA - UN rapporteurs expressed shock over the threats posed by the US and Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating, "It is shocking to see countries that consider themselves champions of the rule of law attempting to intimidate an independent and impartial international court.
The UN rapporteurs expressed their concerns over US and Israeli threats against ICC members and their families in a formal declaration. The UN condemned these threats as attempts to thwart Israeli leader arrest warrants.
The statement stressed the significance of the ICC's mission in pursuing responsibility for illegal deaths, injuries, trauma, and hostage-taking, especially in Gaza. It noted that state actors' intimidation simply perpetuates impunity and hinders justice for victims of major international crimes.
The statement stressed that the ICC must work freely and impartially, free from external intervention or compulsion, to investigate crimes in Palestine, including Gaza and the West Bank.
Recent allegations of ICC arrest warrants for key Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection to Gaza assaults have raised tensions. The UN statement stressed the necessity of letting the ICC do its job and warned against obstructing justice.
