Former Mossad Chief 'Threatened' ICC Prosecutor to Abandon War Crimes Probe
Source says spy chief was acting as Netanyahu’s 'unofficial messenger'
Yossi Cohen, the former head of Israel’s spy agency Mossad, allegedly carried out an intimidation campaign against a prosecutor from the International Criminal Court over its probe into allegations of Israeli war crimes against Palestinians, a report said.
NATO’S STOLTENBERG FACES CALL TO RESIGN
The Guardian reported that the prosecutor targeted was Fatou Bensouda, who opened the probe in 2021 that was focused on the occupied Palestinian territories.
At one point, he allegedly told her that she 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.”
The report said Karim Khan took over her probe and announced last week that he will seek arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Head Yoav Gallant for allegedly using starvation as a tool in the war.
Khan said earlier this month that “all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence its officials cease immediately.”
A senior Israeli official told the British paper that “Cohen’s personal involvement in the operation against the ICC took place when he was the director of the Mossad. His activities were authorized at a high level and justified on the basis the court posed a threat of prosecution against military personnel.”
Another source told the paper that Cohen was acting as Netanyahu’s “unofficial messenger.”
Khan spoke with CNN and said he “had some elected leaders speak to me and they were very blunt. 'This court is built for Africa and for thugs like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,' was what one senior leader told me."
“We don't do it like that. This court should be the triumph of law, over power and brute force: grab what you can take what you want, do what you will,” he said.
The Guardian said it teamed up with the Israeli-based magazines +972 and Local Call and can reveal how Israel “has run an almost decade-long secret ‘war’ against the court. The country deployed its intelligence agencies to surveil, hack, pressure, smear and allegedly threaten senior ICC staff in an effort to derail the court’s inquiries.”
One X user posted: “I am surprised that people are surprised the Mossad threatened the life of the previous ICC prosecutor. Now Karim Khan is a UK citizen and I hope the UK has communicated to Israel it will not allow any foul play of any kind. This is all very serious.”
Jews are demons wearing human skin suits:
"At one point, he allegedly told her that she 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.”"