In a hearing with Dutch Parliament, #ICC Prosecutor Bensouda specifically refers to the Situation in #Palestine case (now before the pre-trail chamber) in relation to the US sanctions against her and her staff.

“Potent forces at work that truly believe they are above the law”

Bensouda: “The sanctions already have an impact; financial assets of me and my staff in the US have been frozen”.

“The Netherlands, through its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, do tremendous work to mitigate the sanctions.”

#ICC Prosecutor Bensouda before Dutch Parliament:
“The US executive order is a grave interference in the works in the Court. This is a grave red line. State parties should take concrete action. Action will speak louder than words”.
The institution is facing difficulties.

“We are concerned this is not the end of it. We are very careful, we are walking on eggshells”

The sanctions are also economic. My credit card is blocked. I could not book a hotel for my official travels. My personal life has been seriously impacted.”

“The #ICC Registrar is engaging with Dutch government and Dutch banks, to help shield those designated under the sanctions.”

Bensouda: “The sanctions are coming from the highest level [in the US].

For State Parties; there is so much they can do. Meetings on the highest level. Demarches. Bilateral, multilateral.

We have no contacts with the US [also not US #Democrats ].”

“Are they succeeding? We investigate very grave crimes, those that shock the consciousness of humanity. From the start we the Court have said; we continue to do our work, as mandated under the Rome Statue. Undeterred, to the best of our ability. Impartially, properly.”