"ICC Charges Against Netanyahu First Time Court Has Gone After Western Leader"
Brody says the charges are "a watershed event in the history of international justice. This is the first time that a Western or pro-Western leader is [the] subject of an indictment request.”
The warrants for Israel’s top leaders must still be approved by a panel of ICC judges.
"Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, must request the warrants from a pre-trial panel of three judges, who take on average two months to consider the evidence" & make a determination.
Israel is not a member of the ICC.
Even if the warrants are issued, there is no immediate risk of prosecution, but the threat of arrest could make OS travel difficult.
When he received threats not to go after Israel, Karim Khan revealed that "a senior leader" told him the #ICC "is built for Africa and for thugs like Putin", and not for the West and its allies.
UK’s Karim Khan elected next ICC prosecutor, will replace controversial Bensouda (Times of Israel, 2021-01-13)
In 2021:
"Israel’s Kan public broadcaster reported that Israeli officials supported Khan’s candidacy behind the scenes, and consider him a pragmatist who shies away from politicization." 👀
@realTuckFrumper counterpoint, the #ICC has done exactly what needs done. Present dictators with consequences for their previously unchecked spree of war crimes.
Former ICC official Eric Witte says that the decision does not imply that the actions of each side’s leaders are equal but that they will be “equally scrutinised under the law”.
“It’s impossible to compare the two. “But what we can say is that victims on both sides are deeply deserving of justice, accountability …"
“There are standards even during wartime. Even if you feel your cause is justified, it doesn’t mean that you can use any means whatsoever to pursue that cause.”
#France breaks with Western allies to support #ICC on warrants
France says “it will be up to [ICC] to decide whether to issue these warrants, after examining the evidence…France supports the ICC, its independence, & the fight against impunity in all situations”
It also said it has been warning “for many months…in particular of the unacceptable level of civilian casualties in the #Gaza Strip and the lack of humanitarian access”
🇫🇷 "France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence and the fight against impunity in every situation."
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France