Western-backed countries like Israel seem to avoid accountability for serious violations against Palestinians while weaker nations are prosecuted, raising questions about the International Criminal Court's (ICC) impartiality, Farouk Hussein Abu Daif, a political researcher specializing in African affairs, told Sputnik Africa.
He suggested that some countries "may see this as a motive to accelerate their withdrawal to protect their sovereignty and avoid future trials of their leaders."
Abu Daif noted that the ICC's arrest warrant for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, despite the Philippines' withdrawal in 2019, questions its jurisdiction over non-members. He pointed out that enforcement depends on Philippine cooperation, raising concerns about state sovereignty. Furthermore, failure to compel compliance could damage the ICC's credibility and underscore the challenges of enforcing international justice without global consensus, he added.
The experts acknowledged that while the arrest underscores international accountability, it also sparks debate about the proceedings' legitimacy, given the Philippines' withdrawal and potential double standards.
Abu Daif concluded that prosecuting Duterte sets a precedent for targeting leaders of non-member states for crimes against humanity. The ICC's reliance on cooperation like Interpol warrants could politicize international justice, especially against leaders critical of the Western-led world order, he noted.