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The ICC’s problem with convicting war criminals

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Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia
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The ICC’s top prosecutor recently stated his intention to seek arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders associated with the war in Gaza. Yet, the court’s history of challenges raises doubts about its effectiveness in convicting war criminals.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002, is a judicial institution dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and trying individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

With over 120 member countries, the ICC aims to end impunity for these crimes and help prevent them, acting as a last resort when national courts cannot or will not act.

Recently, the organisation has been in the limelight after its top prosecutor Karim Khan announced his intentions to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and other figures involved in the Israel-Hamas war.

The ICC’s unprecedented decision to target leaders of a Western-allied state like Israel has sparked outrage from some leaders, who deny its validity. Advocates of international justice, however, commend the ICC’s commitment to accountability for all.

Nonetheless, the ICC’s history has led many to question its effectiveness and whether its efforts will bear weight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdJNAgI7e0I&pp=ygUcaW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBjcmltaW5hbCBjb3VydA%3D%3D


The warrants sought after

The court is currently assessing whether there is sufficient evidence of war crimes committed by both Israeli and Hamas leaders to issue such warrants.

Khan mentioned that there were sufficient grounds to hold the leaders responsible for their crimes through the war. The basis of the warrants are allegations of the starvation of civilians and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population.

If granted, any of the 124 ICC member states are obliged to arrest the accused if they are on state soil. Until then, neither of the leaders will stand trial unless they are in the court’s custody, especially since the organisation lacks a force under its own authority to arrest perpetrators.

Yet, even if issued, these warrants will not guarantee a change in the the direction of the war, due to the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction in Israel.

Unsurprisingly, the move by Khan has sparked outrage from Israel, with Netanyahu calling the ICC prosecutor one of the ‘great antisemites in modern times’.

The US has also backed Israel in rejecting the warrant requests, while the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that though the ICC’s actions were not helpful to the situation, the nation would be obliged to make arrests if the warrant is issued – should Israel’s immunity not come into play.


The court’s history of failure

Predominantly, the court has faced criticism for allegedly targeting African nations unfairly. Critics argue that the ICC has disproportionately focused on African cases, with most of its ongoing investigations involving African states.

This perceived agenda has led to accusations of anti-African bias and calls for states under the African Union to withdraw from the ICC. However, proponents of the ICC argue that the court’s focus on Africa reflects the severity of human rights violations in these countries and the need for international justice.

Even in such investigations, though, the court is limited by the Rome Statute that outlines the ICC’s jurisdiction and procedures. The statute states that the court can only prosecute crimes committed after the decree is issued and signed. Moreover, it only has jurisdiction if the crime has been committed in the territory of state parties, which Israel isn’t, making prosecution difficult.

Despite the large number of potential cases that do fall under its jurisdiction, the ICC has only indicted more than 40 people since its inception. Of these, just 10 have been convicted with 4 being acquitted and 17 remaining at large.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzbBES2_iI&pp=ygUqaW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBjcmltaW5hbCBjb3VydCBlZmZlY3RpdmVuZXNz

This low rate of convictions has led some scholars to question whether the ICC is “broken” and failing in its core mission of delivering justice and ending impunity for the gravest international crimes. Many subjects of ICC warrants remain on the loose, including none other than Russia’s President Putin.

The ICC’s effectiveness is hindered by its reliance on state cooperation and the influence of domestic politics. The court lacks its own enforcement mechanism and must rely on member states to apprehend and surrender suspects.

Ultimately, if the ICC were to agree that the evidence presented was substantial to issue warrants, it is unlikely to significantly impact the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as neither side is likely to comply with the court’s demands.

The ICC’s efforts would be overshadowed by the need for a mutual stand down in the war, which would require a more comprehensive and political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.

Contributing Writer Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia

Hey, I’m Anyaa, a Behavioral Economist in the making who is currently doing a degree in Psychology. By nature, I’m a journalist who hopes to instigate conversations by sharing the stories and truths that make the world more comprehensible.

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