Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan allegedly deliberate to concern arrest warrants for Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Wall Avenue Journal reported on Wednesday.
Khan reportedly ready to hunt these warrants earlier than he went on depart because the UN investigates sexual assault allegations made in opposition to him, the Wall Avenue Journal famous.
Ben-Gvir responded to the alleged arrest warrant in a publish to X/Twitter, writing, “I’ve one clear message for the chief prosecutor on the Worldwide Prison Court docket in The Hague: no arrest warrant of any form will deter me from persevering with to behave for the individuals of Israel and the Land of Israel.”
“The prosecutor in The Hague won’t scare me, doesn’t threaten me—I’ll do no matter is critical to guard my individuals, even at the price of issuing a counter-warrant. When there’s a warrant in opposition to me in The Hague—I do know I’m on the appropriate path,” Ben-Gvir said.
The circumstances in opposition to Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have been primarily based on their positions in increasing the Jewish settlements inside the West Financial institution. The choice to maneuver ahead with these circumstances is to be made by Khan’s two deputies. As of but, it’s unknown how they select to proceed, the Wall Avenue Journal reported.
If pursued, these circumstances would escalate the tensions between the ICC and Israel past simply the conflict in Gaza, however transfer it additional into the West Bank. The ICC said that since 2014, when the PA accepted its jurisdiction, the ICC has a mandate to look into the crimes which can be dedicated inside the Palestinian territories, the report famous.
The report then went on to debate the truth that the ICC prosecutors have been making an attempt to discern if Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have dedicated conflict crimes that go in opposition to the Geneva Conference because of their efforts to develop the Jewish settlements within the West Financial institution.
Khan tried to make use of the plight of the Gazans to control his sufferer
A Malaysian lawyer who had labored as an in depth aide to Khan and accompanied him on a number of abroad journeys instructed United Nations investigators that he coerced her into non-consensual sexual encounters in New York, Paris, and The Hague.
She mentioned she initially remained silent because of fears {of professional} retaliation and concern over her mom’s medical bills. The allegations have been formally reported to senior ICC officers in April 2024, the Wall Avenue Journal earlier reported.
Khan reportedly discovered of the grievance shortly earlier than canceling a scheduled journey to Israel and Gaza. Days later, he publicly introduced the court docket’s intention to hunt arrest warrants for Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant. The timing raised questions inside the court docket and amongst diplomats over whether or not the choice was influenced by rising scrutiny round Khan’s private conduct.
Khan has denied all accusations. His authorized workforce mentioned that his work as a prosecutor was primarily based solely on authorized and evidentiary concerns. “It’s categorically unfaithful that he has engaged in sexual misconduct of any form,” they mentioned.
In accordance with the Wall Avenue Journal, Khan pressured the complainant to retract her allegations. He warned her that pursuing the matter would injury each their reputations and undermine the ICC’s work. He reportedly instructed her, “Take into consideration the Palestinian arrest warrants.”
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