ICC Prosecutor Rejects Calls to Withdraw Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor's office has not taken steps to withdraw arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, despite pressure from Washington. Acting Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan confirmed that a team of prosecutors is continuing its work and the investigation remains ongoing. Khan emphasized that the office acts based on law and evidence when seeking warrants and rejects any suggestions of ulterior motives, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump was preparing a package of significant sanctions against the ICC. These measures could severely restrict the organization's operations and its access to the global financial system. The warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, issued in connection with events in Gaza, were the stated reason for the sanctions. Following a six-to-seven-month transition period, the new measures could prohibit most financial transactions involving the court, including U.S. dollar transactions, which would significantly complicate its daily activities and mandate fulfillment.

Previously, the issue of interaction with the ICC was raised internationally. At a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker urged NATO countries to assist in dismantling the International Criminal Court.