International Criminal Court warns people to stop intimidating their judges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has warned against intimating judges or other staff. The ICC claims that individuals are threatening retaliation surrounding specific investigations or rulings, the court wrote in a statement on Friday.

The ICC did not disclose the nature of the threats, such as if they have anything to do with the war between Russia and Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, or another matter.

The court said this undermines the ICC's independence and impartiality. Actions like this can be considered a crime against the judiciary.

"Such threats, even when not acted upon, may also constitute an offence against the administration of justice under Art. 70 of the Rome Statute. That provision explicitly prohibits both "retaliating against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that or another official" and "impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties," the ICC wrote.

"The Office insists that all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence its officials cease immediately."

Media have reported that the ICC may issue a warrant of arrest against Israeli officials, one of which is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is said to have urged US President Joe Biden to prevent the court from doing so.