Former International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has complained that she and her family have been "directly threatened" while working on sensitive cases, and called for the court to be protected from "political pressure and manipulation".

This came at an event in the British capital, London, in which she addressed some of the threats and provocations she was subjected to during her work as chief prosecutor between 2012 and 2021, according to what was reported by the British newspaper The Guardian.

Prominent Gambian lawyer Bensouda said she, her family and her advisers had been threatened over sensitive cases they were working on, but had not succumbed to the threats.

Noting that the ICC must continue to do its work without political interference, she said: “Political calculations should not be allowed to influence decision-making processes.”

She explained that the support of the signatory states to the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court, is essential to protect the court from all kinds of political pressure and manipulation.

The Rome Statute was adopted in 1998 in the Italian capital, and entered into force in 2002, thus announcing the establishment of the first permanent international criminal court, which is responsible for holding accountable the wars and conflicts witnessed in the world, which include clear violations of the basic rights guaranteed by international humanitarian law.

In 2021, Bensouda began an investigation into Israel's commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.

Last May, the Guardian reported that the former head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, Yossi Cohen, held secret meetings with Bensouda before starting an investigation against Israel, and threatened her to force her to stop the investigation.

The report indicated that Cohen told Bensouda: “You have to help us, so that we can take care of you. You do not want to get involved in things that will put your safety and the safety of your family at risk.”

It is noteworthy that on November 21, the International Criminal Court issued two arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant for committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.