“We trust the cooperation of the member states in this situation,” Khan wrote in an appeal to the member states – and also called on other states, which are not members of the convention, to enforce the orders.
“Also, I will continue to seek cooperation from all stakeholders, including the State of Israel and the ‘State of Palestine’, to ensure that my office fulfills its full responsibility, in accordance with Article 54 of the Rome Statute, to investigate equally incriminating and qualifying circumstances,” continued Khan – who noted This is not the only investigation on the issue of Israel: “My office continues to investigate the situation in the ‘State of Palestine’ independently and impartially. We are promoting additional lines of investigation in the areas under the jurisdiction of The court, including Gaza and the West Bank – including East Jerusalem.”
“I am deeply concerned by reports of an escalation in violence, a further curtailment of humanitarian access and allegations of international crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. We will continue to carry out our mandate to fulfill the fundamental obligation that forms the basis of the Rome Statute: the lives of all human beings have equal value.” .
Recently, Khan linked his request to have the warrants issued from the court to another investigation – which is being conducted against him regarding inappropriate sexual behavior. At the time, Khan claimed that the accusations against him “are consistent with the smear campaign against the background of the request for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.”
“Black day in the history of nations”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented at length on the decision to issue arrest warrants for him and Gallant. “Citizens of Israel, this is a black day in the history of nations,” he said in a recorded statement, “The International Court of Justice in The Hague, which was established to protect humanity, has today become the enemy of humanity.”
“This is moral bankruptcy,” Netanyahu continued, “it violates the natural right of democracies to defend themselves against murderous terrorism. After the terrible massacre of the Shi’veh in October, in which Hamas murderers raped women, beheaded, burned children in front of their parents and kidnapped hundreds of our citizens, they continue to commit a war crime against us, including the continued detention of our 101 abductees, and what is the Hague Tribunal doing in the face of these atrocities? today issued an arrest warrant against the body of Muhammad Daf.”
“This is an anti-Semitic measure that has one goal – to deter me, to deter us, from exercising our natural right to defend ourselves against our enemies who are against us to destroy us,” Netanyahu added.