Israeli Intelligence Efforts to Undermine ICC War Crimes Investigation Revealed

A comprehensive investigation has uncovered a clandestine operation by Israeli intelligence agencies aimed at obstructing the ICC war crimes investigations. This covert campaign, which spanned nearly a decade, involved surveillance, hacking, and alleged threats against International Criminal Court officials, including chief prosecutor Karim Khan and his predecessor, Fatou Bensouda.

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Israel’s Strategic Edge in ICC War Crimes Investigation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, described as “obsessed” with the ICC proceedings, personally oversaw these operations. Intelligence agencies like Shin Bet, Aman, and Unit 8200 intercepted communications of ICC officials, giving Israel an advantage in its secret back-channel meetings with the prosecutor’s office. These meetings, highly sensitive and held between 2017 and 2019, involved top government lawyers and diplomats authorised by Netanyahu. They aimed to challenge the prosecutor’s jurisdiction and assert Israel’s internal mechanisms for addressing military misconduct.

Despite Israeli denials, the ICC has taken measures to protect its investigations. The revelation of this extensive campaign, including personal threats and a smear campaign against Bensouda, highlights the intense geopolitical struggle surrounding international justice. In February 2024, Khan announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to holding those accused of war crimes accountable.