Failure to protect the ICC – Dutch cowardice in the face of US and Israeli attacks?

The ICC was established to ensure accountability for the world’s gravest crimes. Yet today, the Court itself is under attack. For over ten years, Court officials and NGO workers have faced threats, intimidation, cyberattacks, and sanctions. Much of this has taken place in the Netherlands—with total impunity. 

These sanctions and “thug-style” threats from Israel and the United States, in response to the ICC’s Palestine investigation, have raised serious concerns about the Court’s ability to function and the willingness of states to defend it.  

As host state, the Netherlands has done little to prevent these pressures. Instead, it continues to treat those responsible as political allies, while failing to push for concrete protective measures at the European level, such as invoking the EU Blocking Statute to shield the Court from external interference. 

What does this mean for international justice? And why has the Netherlands, as host state, failed to act effectively? 

At a time when international justice is under pressure, this event asks a simple but urgent question: will the Netherlands stand up for the ICC—or let impunity prevail?

The speakers

Fatou Bensouda. [c] Internationaal Strafhof

Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the ICC, who will reflect on the real-world impact of sanctions on the Court’s work and independence. During her tenure, she and her family were subjected to direct threats and intimidation.

Ahmed Abofoul, legal advisor at Al-Haq, on how Palestinian human rights organisations are affected by sanctions. Al-Haq and other Palestinian NGOs have been targeted by the US and Israel for their work on human rights violations.

Kati Piri, member of the Dutch Parliament for PRO, offering a political perspective on the Netherlands’ responsibilities and possible action. She has called on the Dutch government investigate Israeli threats and to trigger the EU Blocking Statute to protect the Court.

The discussion will be moderated by dr. Giulia Pinzauti, Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University.

BASH event