Former Mossad Chief Threatened ICC Prosecutor to Drop 2021 War Crimes Probe: Report

Former Mossad Chief Threatened ICC Prosecutor to Drop War Crimes Probe

In a shocking report by The Guardian, it has been revealed that Yossi Cohen, the former chief of Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency, threatened the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor in an attempt to get a 2021 war crimes probe dropped.

According to the investigation, Cohen held secret meetings with the ICC’s former prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, in an effort to pressure her into abandoning the probe into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in occupied Palestinian territories. The report suggests that Israel and its Western allies have been working together to influence international justice bodies.

Last week, Bensouda’s successor, Karim Khan, applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu based on the probe launched in 2021. Khan stated that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Cohen’s tactics against Bensouda have been described as “despicable” by sources familiar with the situation. He allegedly used intimidation and threats to try to sway her decision, telling her, “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.”

In response to Khan’s move against Israeli officials, US President Joe Biden called it “outrageous,” while Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the White House would be willing to work with Congress on legislation to penalize the ICC. Several US lawmakers have also urged sanctions against the court.

Palestinians are concerned that Israel and the US will pressure ICC judges to reject Khan’s requests for arrest warrants. The situation further complicates Israel’s relationship with European allies and raises questions about the US’s role in shielding Israel from international law violations.

The developments in this case highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes in the region and the efforts by various parties to influence the outcome.