In a shocking revelation, an investigative report has exposed the alleged attempts of the Israeli intelligence chief, Yossi Cohen, to intimidate the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor in the midst of a war crimes investigation. The report comes just a week after the ICC applied for arrest warrants for two top Israeli officials over the IDF's assault on Gaza.

Former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda initiated a preliminary investigation in 2015 to assess allegations of possible war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. However, Bensouda and her team soon began to receive warnings that Mossad, the Israeli national intelligence agency, was closely monitoring their work, according to Israeli publications.

The report reveals that in 2018, Cohen, the Mossad director at the time, allegedly ambushed Bensouda during a meeting in New York. The surprise encounter reportedly caused alarm among Bensouda and ICC officials present. Cohen's behavior, described by one ICC official as "stalking," continued even after his retirement in 2021. He allegedly made multiple calls and sought meetings with Bensouda, resorting to threats and manipulation tactics.

During one meeting, Cohen allegedly warned Bensouda about compromising her security and that of her family, suggesting that a full investigation into war crimes by Israel would harm her career. Furthermore, he reportedly showed her covertly taken photos of her husband. The investigation found that Cohen's conduct violated Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and could be considered offenses against the administration of justice.

The Israeli government has yet to respond to the allegations, while Bensouda and her office declined to comment on the report. Notably, Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and does not recognize the authority of the ICC. However, individuals, including Israeli officials, can still be prosecuted for offenses against the administration of justice, regardless of Israel's non-compliance.

The revelations about Cohen's alleged targeting of Bensouda have sparked outrage, with critics arguing that it demonstrates the Israeli government's unchecked actions, partially due to the support it receives from the United States. The Trump administration had imposed sanctions, including visa restrictions, against Bensouda between 2019-2020, which were seen as retaliation for a separate war crimes probe involving Afghanistan.

In 2021, the ICC officially opened its formal war crimes investigation, going back to 2014. Last week, current ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders for actions since October 2023.

The alleged targeting of an ICC prosecutor and the involvement of Mossad raise serious concerns about the impartiality and independence of the Court's proceedings. The international community will be closely watching how this development unfolds and how it may impact future accountability for alleged war crimes.

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