Pressure on International Criminal Court over Gaza and Israel
- Israel and Western countries intensify efforts to prevent arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
- Pressure mounts on the International Criminal Court over the handling of the Gaza and Israel situation.
- Concerns arise about political interference and legal implications in the conflict.
On August 8, Israel announced diplomatic reprisals against Norway, a move seen as part of its broader strategy to thwart potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, criticized Norway for recognizing Palestine and for its involvement in what he termed a "baseless case" against Israel at the ICC, leading to the revocation of diplomatic status for Norwegian staff working with the Palestinian Authority. The ICC's prosecutor, Karim Khan, had requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on May 20, prompting a significant response from the United Kingdom. The UK sought to intervene as amicus curiae, arguing that the Oslo Accords did not permit Palestinian requests for ICC investigations into Israeli actions. This intervention was notable as it came after the ICC had opened an investigation in March 2021, following a Palestinian request in 2018. The British initiative, discussed at the G7 in June, aimed to delay the ICC's proceedings. Following this, the ICC judges received over 60 responses from various stakeholders, including legal experts and states, which contributed to a slowdown in the process. Netanyahu's outreach to French President Emmanuel Macron in July further indicated Israel's desire for international support in this legal battle, with Macron previously assuring that the warrants would not be issued promptly.