Exclusive: ICC prosecutor opted for warrants over visit to Gaza

By Anthony Deutsch , Stephanie van den Berg and Humeyra Pamuk
July 5, 2024 4:25 AM EDT Updated 2 hours ago

Summary

- ICC mission planned for Gaza, Ramallah, Jerusalem was called off
- Sudden cancellation angered Washington, London
- In call, UK's Cameron threatened to pull UK out of ICC and cut funds
- Security for Gaza mission was discussed with UN

THE HAGUE/WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - On May 20, the same day International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan made a surprise request for warrants to arrest the leaders of Israel and Hamas involved in the Gaza conflict, he suddenly cancelled a sensitive mission to collect evidence in the region, eight people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Planning for the visit had been under way for months with U.S. officials, four of the sources said.

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