LONDON: The Dutch foreign ministry has called in Israel’s ambassador over allegations that a secret surveillance and espionage campaign against the International Criminal Court was carried out by Israeli spy services.
Dutch officials asked to meet the ambassador, Modi Ephraim, to discuss concerns raised by an investigation in The Guardian newspaper, which revealed that Israeli intelligence agencies had attempted, over a nine-year period, to undermine, influence and allegedly intimidate the ICC chief prosecutor’s office.
The meeting was disclosed by officials in response to questions raised in parliament by several Dutch MPs about the revelations, part of a joint investigation with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call.
As the host state of the ICC, which is in The Hague, the Netherlands is obliged under an agreement with the court to protect the safety and security of ICC staff and ensure that the court is “free from interference of any kind.”
Earlier this month, the Netherlands was among 93 member states that vowed to defend the ICC against political pressure and interference, in a significant intervention that backed the court at a critical moment for its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan.
In May, Khan filed applications for arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas’s chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7 and the ensuing Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Khan’s requests, which provoked fierce criticism from Israel and allies in the US, are being considered by one of the ICC’s pre-trial chambers. A panel of three judges will have to decide whether to issue the arrest warrants or reject the application.
Kati Piri, among the MPs seeking answers, called for an investigation into whether the Israeli embassy was involved in any of the covert activities. She said the Netherlands had “a special responsibility” to ensure the court could function independently and free from intimidation.
Responding to the questions raised by the MPs, the Dutch foreign ministry said it “opposed any form of threat and intimidation” against the ICC and had “regular contacts with the (court), during which various security concerns are raised.”
Piri, an MP in the Green-Labour alliance, criticized the government for not being open enough about its response to the allegations. She said the meeting with the ambassador was the only indication by Dutch officials that the situation was being “taken seriously.”
She told The Guardian: “As host country, I expect louder public support from the Dutch government for the ICC and its employees.” AP
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