• Global powers are delaying ICC investigations into Gaza war crimes, preventing accountability and allowing violence to continue.
• These actions undermine international justice and embolden perpetrators.
The crisis in Gaza continues unabated, with the situation on the ground growing more dire by the day. Yet, behind the scenes, a different kind of battle is unfolding. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan recently revealed that world leaders have been using delaying tactics and even threats to hinder investigations into alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. These efforts, masked as diplomatic or legal strategies, serve one primary purpose: to prevent international accountability and allow the genocide to continue unchecked.
Prolonging the Genocide
The ICC, tasked with investigating war crimes and ensuring justice for victims, has been met with significant resistance from powerful states. By using delaying tactics in the legal process, these nations are effectively enabling the continued destruction of Gaza, allowing military actions and blockades to persist with little oversight. The term “genocide” has been used to describe the mass civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and the overall humanitarian disaster unfolding in the region. These tactics, both covert and overt, are designed to delay any meaningful intervention or legal proceedings that could halt the violence.
Each delay in the legal process not only denies justice to the victims but also gives cover to those committing atrocities. With every passing day, the civilian death toll in Gaza rises, and homes, schools, and hospitals continue to be targeted. These delaying tactics—often framed as “diplomatic discussions” or “legal reviews”—are a thinly veiled effort to prolong the suffering and maintain geopolitical control.
Intimidation and Threats to International Justice
Perhaps more concerning is the revelation that ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has faced direct threats from global leaders. These threats aim to undermine the work of the ICC and dissuade it from pursuing arrest warrants against high-ranking officials involved in the conflict. This level of intimidation represents a grave escalation, showing that some nations are willing to undermine the very foundations of international justice to protect their interests.
The ICC, which should operate independently and free from political interference, is being openly challenged. World leaders, instead of facilitating the pursuit of justice, are using underhanded tactics to shield those responsible for the crimes committed in Gaza. Such actions not only discredit the ICC but also embolden the perpetrators of war crimes, signalling that they can act with impunity.
These developments have set a dangerous precedent. When international institutions tasked with upholding justice are threatened by those in power, the entire system of global accountability is at risk. The willingness of states to prioritise political alliances and military interests over human lives reveals a stark reality: justice is not blind but subject to the will of those in power.
A Crisis in Accountability
The ongoing suffering in Gaza is not merely a tragedy but a crisis in global governance. As long as powerful states continue to deploy delaying tactics and intimidation, the people of Gaza will remain trapped in a cycle of violence and despair. The international community must recognise the gravity of these actions and demand accountability—not only for the crimes committed on the ground but also for the global leaders attempting to subvert justice.
The ICC, despite its many challenges, remains a critical institution for ensuring accountability for the world’s most heinous crimes. However, it can only fulfil its mandate if it is allowed to operate without interference. If global powers continue to exert pressure and delay investigations, the very concept of international justice will be rendered meaningless.
It is time for the world to demand an end to delaying tactics. The people of Gaza have already suffered enough, and the international community cannot allow political games to prolong their agony. Justice delayed, in this case, is not only justice denied—it is genocide perpetuated.
