Le Monde Uncovers “Black Year” for ICC Amid Pressure to Protect Israeli Officials from War Crimes Charges
The Hague (Quds News Network)- A bombshell investigation by Le Monde has revealed the “black year” of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the court faced unprecedented external threats in 2024. The pressure campaign aimed to block arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
According to the report published Friday, the ICC endured threats, sanctions, and intelligence interference, largely led by the United States and Israel. These efforts, Le Monde said, were designed to derail any accountability efforts for Israeli war crimes in Palestine.
The investigation revealed that four ICC judges and Prosecutor Karim Khan were personally sanctioned by the US government. British lawyer Andrew Cayley, one of the officials handling the Palestine file, described 2024 as “the worst year of his life.”
Cayley told Le Monde he received a direct threat labeling him an “enemy of Israel.” He was warned not to cooperate with the court after Donald Trump’s election victory. Fearing US retaliation, he resigned and returned to the UK in March.
The pressure intensified after Khan announced in March 2024 his intention to seek war crimes indictments against Netanyahu and Gallant. Soon after, Israeli and Western leaders launched a coordinated campaign to pressure Khan and block legal action.
During a visit to Venezuela, Khan received an angry call from then-UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron. Cameron reportedly threatened to withdraw Britain from the Rome Statute if the ICC moved forward.
The US joined the pressure campaign. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and several European officials personally contacted Khan. A court source told Le Monde that Western officials accused Khan of “endangering peace” and “putting Israeli hostages at risk.”
According to a Dutch intelligence report dated July 17, 2024, the ICC became a “prime target for espionage and sabotage” by several states, especially the US and Israel.
The report also revealed tensions between Khan and his American advisor, Thomas Lynch. The growing suspicion of outside influence led to internal breakdowns in trust within Khan’s team, further stalling the Palestinian investigation.
In a highly sensitive meeting on May 1, 2024, Israeli criminal lawyer Nicholas Kaufman met with Prosecutor Khan in The Hague. The meeting followed Kaufman’s private discussion with Roy Schondorf, Netanyahu’s legal advisor on ICC matters.
According to Le Monde, Kaufman pressured Khan to classify the Netanyahu arrest warrant file as “top secret” to allow Israeli access. He also warned Khan that pursuing the case would “destroy him personally” and destroy the ICC itself.
Just ten days later, The Wall Street Journal published a report accusing Khan of sexually assaulting a female staff member over a year. Khan denied the allegation, and no formal complaint was filed. Still, ICC President Tomoko Akane requested that Khan temporarily step aside.
Former ICC Judge Cuno Tarfusser described the move as a “coup.”
Following Khan’s suspension, his deputies Mam Mandiaye Niang and Nazhat Shameem Khan took over the Palestine case. But fear of potential US sanctions, Le Monde said, has left the case in limbo.
The investigation into Khan’s alleged misconduct has been referred to the United Nations. Results are expected in September. If Khan is found to have committed a “serious violation,” member states could vote to remove him.
Leaks suggest that Western countries are now pushing to replace Khan with a woman from a “relatively weak state.” The goal, according to Le Monde, is to retain diplomatic flexibility and prevent future arrest warrants targeting Israeli officials.
