Join us: Prioritizing Gaza Crimes at the ICC and Anticipated Arrest Warrants
Panel Discussion – Online
Main Information:
- Date: Thursday 9th May 2024.
- Time: 19:00-20:15 (Jerusalem Time), 17:00-18:15 (London).
- Location: Online – via Zoom and also livestreamed on YouTube
- Language: The webinar will be conducted in English. Simultaneous translation into Arabic will be available.
- Registration is required: Register here
Background:
Years of anticipation and effort have passed since Palestine’s initial attempt to bring Israeli crimes before the International Criminal Court (ICC), starting in 2009. After successfully joining the court in 2015, the former ICC Prosecutor announced the official investigation into the situation in Palestine in 2021. Since then, the situation has only intensified on the ground, marked by a surge in crimes against Palestinians, with the most critical being the recent genocidal assault on Gaza. Accusations of double standards, particularly regarding the ICC’s handling of the Ukraine case and the issuance of arrest warrants, have been levelled against the court. However, recent leaks hint at progress along this lengthy path.
Amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, five ICC member states referred the situation in Palestine to the court, with an additional two states joining later. This complements Palestine’s previous referral in 2018. Additionally, numerous non-governmental organizations, including Law for Palestine, have submitted communications detailing Israel’s genocide in Gaza, urging the prosecutor to prioritize investigations in alignment with the court’s case prioritization policy. Furthermore, several states have pledged additional contributions to support the court’s mandate to investigate Palestine.
Prosecutor Karim Khan’s visit to Israel and Palestine underscored the Court’s commitment, with warnings of potential arrest warrants in the event it is proven that crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction have been committed. Recent political manoeuvres and unconfirmed media leaks suggest that the ICC is in the process of issuing arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Netanyahu. While awaiting official confirmation from the court, indications suggest progress toward this outcome.
However, these developments have sparked backlash aimed at obstructing the Court’s role. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu preemptively opposed potential arrest warrants, while Israel sought intervention from its allies to ensure that the ICC does not act. Threats of sanctions against the Palestinian Authority and punitive measures against the Court and its employees ensued, echoing past actions during the Trump administration.
In response, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor issued an unprecedented statement condemning intimidation of its staff, highlighting potential offences that such intimidation would give rise to.
This webinar convenes international lawyers, legal experts, researchers, and NGOs involved in the ICC investigation in Palestine/Israel to:
- Affirm the court’s crucial role in upholding international justice and law in Palestine, despite external pressures.
- Advocate for prioritizing investigations into the crimes committed in Gaza, including genocide, aligning with the Office of the Prosecutor’s case prioritization policy.
- Shed light on the experiences and expectations of Gaza victims with the ICC, exploring strategies for the court to overcome obstacles in reaching them and accessing crime scenes.
- Discuss potential procedures and scenarios for issuing arrest warrants, their implications, and the responsibilities of the 124 ICC member states in response.
Speakers:
- Abdelghany Sayed: Former ICC Office of Prosecutor Staff, PhD researcher at Kent University.
- Huda Abu Daqqa: Researcher in International Criminal Law, Law for Palestine
- Mark Kersten: Professor of International Criminal Justice, University of the Fraser Valley.
- Triestino Mariniello: Member of the legal team representing Gaza victims before the ICC
Moderator:
- Shahd Hammouri: Lecturer in Law, Kent Law School
