THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court’s member states open their annual assembly Monday whereas the courtroom faces pushback over arrest warrants for Israeli officers, sexual harassment allegations towards the courtroom’s chief prosecutor and a really empty docket.
The Assembly of States Parties, which represents the ICC’s 124 member international locations, will convene its twenty third convention to elect committee members and approve the courtroom’s price range towards a backdrop of unfavorable headlines.
Last month, judges granted a request from the courtroom’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan to concern arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former protection minister and Hamas’ army chief, accusing them of crimes towards humanity in reference to the almost 14-month battle in Gaza.
It marks the primary time {that a} sitting chief of a serious Western ally has been accused by the worldwide courtroom of justice. The resolution has been denounced by critics of the courtroom and given solely milquetoast approval by a lot of its supporters, a stark distinction to the strong backing of an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin final yr over battle crimes in Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden known as the warrants for Netanyahu and the previous protection minister “outrageous” and vowed to face with Israel. A yr in the past, Biden known as the warrant for Putin “justified” and mentioned the Russian president had dedicated battle crimes. The U.S. just isn’t an ICC member nation.
France mentioned it might “respect its obligations” however would wish to contemplate Netanyahu’s potential immunities. When the warrant for Putin was introduced, France mentioned it might “lend its assist to the important work” of the courtroom.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who at the moment holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, accused the courtroom of “interfering in an ongoing battle for political functions” and mentioned his nation wouldn’t arrest Netanyahu. Hungary is an ICC member nation.
The ICC was established in 2002 because the world’s everlasting courtroom of final resort to prosecute people answerable for essentially the most heinous atrocities — battle crimes, crimes towards humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression. The courtroom solely turns into concerned when nations are unable or unwilling to prosecute these crimes on their territory. To date, 124 international locations have signed on to the Rome Statute, which created the establishment. Those who haven’t embody Israel, Russia and China.
The ICC has no police power and depends on member states to execute arrest warrants.
Member nation Austria begrudgingly acknowledged it might arrest Netanyahu however known as the warrants “completely incomprehensible,” Italy known as them “flawed” however mentioned it might be obliged to arrest him. Germany mentioned it might research the choice.
Global safety skilled Janina Dill fearful that such responses might undermine international justice efforts. “It actually has the potential to wreck not simply the courtroom, however worldwide legislation,” she advised The Associated Press.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose Republican get together will management each branches of Congress in January, known as the courtroom a “harmful joke” and urged Congress to sanction its prosecutor. “To any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, in case you attempt to assist the ICC, we’re going to sanction you,” Graham mentioned on Fox News.
President-elect Donald Trump sanctioned the courtroom’s earlier prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, with a journey ban and asset freeze for investigating American troops and intelligence officers in Afghanistan.
Milena Sterio, an skilled in worldwide legislation at Cleveland State University, advised the AP that sanctions might have an effect on numerous individuals who contribute to the courtroom’s work, comparable to worldwide human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Clooney suggested the present prosecutor on his request for the warrants for Netanyahu and others.
“Sanctions are an enormous burden,” Sterio mentioned. Clooney didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Khan is up towards inner pressures as effectively. In October, the AP reported the 54-year outdated British lawyer is dealing with allegations he tried to coerce a feminine aide right into a sexual relationship and groped her.
Two co-workers in whom the lady confided reported the alleged misconduct in May to the courtroom’s impartial watchdog, which says it interviewed the lady and ended its inquiry after 5 days when she opted towards submitting a proper grievance. Khan was by no means questioned. He has denied the claims.
The Assembly of States Parties has introduced it can launch an exterior probe into the allegations. It’s not clear if the investigation might be addressed through the assembly.
The courtroom, which has lengthy confronted accusations of ineffectiveness, could have no trials pending after two conclude in December. While it has issued numerous arrest warrants in latest months, many high-profile suspects stay at giant.
Member states don’t at all times act. Mongolia refused to arrest Putin when he visited in September. Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir is needed by the ICC over accusations associated to the battle in Darfur, however his nation has refused at hand him over. Last week, Khan requested a warrant for the top of Myanmar’s army regime, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, for assaults towards the nation’s Rohingya Muslim minority. Judges have but to resolve on that request.
“It turns into very troublesome to justify the courtroom’s existence,” Sterio mentioned.
___
AP journalist Joshua Goodman contributed from Miami.
