According to Deputy Prosecutor Nahat Shamim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken no steps to withdraw arrest warrants or related statements concerning Israeli officials, despite growing pressure and sanctions from the United States.
In an interview with CNN over the weekend, Khan stated that the case is still under review. He emphasized that the ICC team continues its investigation into the matter and has not attempted to withdraw either the arrest warrant or the corresponding allegations.
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza since October 2023.
Since then, the US has imposed sanctions on most of the Court's leadership, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, two deputy prosecutors, and nine judges, among whom is the President of the Court.
Israel has also taken steps to challenge these warrants at the ICC. Two appeal processes are currently ongoing, one challenging the Court's jurisdiction over Israeli citizens because Israel is not a member of the Court.
Meanwhile, Middle East Eye reported that the prosecution has pursued further cases against high-ranking Israeli officials over the past two years. In May, MEE reported the filing of a confidential statement by the prosecutor demanding the arrest of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The charges included forcible transfer as a war crime and a crime against humanity, the transfer of Israeli civilians to occupied territory as a war crime, as well as persecution and apartheid as crimes against humanity. Evidence was also reviewed to assess two additional statements, one concerning National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Khan's comments came amid the escalation of President Donald Trump's administration's campaign against the court based in The Hague. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in July that Washington would use all available tools to 'dismantle the ICC—brick by brick if necessary,' calling on member states to cease supporting the organization.
In other statements, Rubio also called the court a 'foolish organization' run by 'crazy people and madmen' and warned that it would face consequences for attempting to exercise jurisdiction over American citizens.