ICC’s delayed investigation into Palestine `exposes hypocrisy and inaction

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) handling of its investigation into the situation in Palestine reveals both its lack of integrity and its inability to take meaningful action.

On October 30, 2024, the ICC again postponed its final decision regarding arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by another five months.

This delay underscores how the ICC’s approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has devolved into a theatrical performance rather than a serious judicial process. Despite the investigation being officially launched in March 2021, it has made little progress.

 In fact, the ICC has been examining the situation in Palestine for over nine years, yet no significant action has been taken to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes in Gaza.

The court merely claims that the investigation is "ongoing" as Israeli military strikes continue to target Palestinian civilians.

While the ICC has been quick to address issues related to Ukraine, it has shown far less urgency when it comes to Gaza. No arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the crimes in Palestine, highlighting the court's double standards.

The delays in addressing the Palestine case trace back to 2015, when former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda initiated a preliminary investigation. The requests for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were filed on May 20, 2024, but the process has faced repeated setbacks, particularly from Israel and its allies.

Recently, the United Kingdom stalled the proceedings, claiming to have found "issues" that call into question the ICC’s competence, based on a 30-year-old clause in the Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

Instead of focusing on the investigation of war crimes, the ICC has been caught up in determining its own jurisdiction, creating the illusion of action while effectively delaying any meaningful progress.

 Meanwhile, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has shown blatant hypocrisy by defending Israel’s actions as "self-defense" while turning a blind eye to the mounting evidence of war crimes. Despite the overwhelming video documentation of these atrocities, the ICC has failed to classify them as crimes against humanity or genocide.

In reality, Western leaders, particularly from the United States and European Union, are committed to shielding Israel from accountability.

Despite indisputable evidence of Israel’s war crimes, these countries will likely continue issuing empty rhetorical statements while refusing to take any action. The response will be limited to mild reprimands, with no significant consequences, as they maintain a firm pro-Israel stance.