The British newspaper "The Guardian" revealed that former Israeli Mossad chief Yossi Cohen threatened the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during a series of secret meetings in an attempt to pressure her to abandon the investigation into war crimes. These confidential communications took place between Cohen and then-ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in the years leading up to her decision to open a formal investigation into war crimes in Palestinian territories.
"The Guardian" quoted a senior Israeli official stating that Cohen's personal involvement in the operation against the ICC occurred while he was the head of Mossad, and his activities were endorsed at a high level based on the premise that the court posed a threat of pursuing military personnel. Another Israeli source familiar with the operation against Bensouda indicated that the goal of Mossad was to recruit the Prosecutor as someone who would cooperate with Israel's demands. A third source familiar with the operation described Cohen as an "unofficial messenger" for Benjamin Netanyahu.
Four sources confirmed that Bensouda briefed a small group of senior ICC officials on Cohen's attempts to influence her, amidst concerns regarding the increasingly menacing nature of his conduct. Three of those sources were aware of Bensouda's official disclosures to the ICC regarding this matter, stating that she revealed Cohen pressured her on several occasions not to proceed with a criminal investigation into Palestine at the ICC.
According to two sources directly knowledgeable about the matter, Mossad showed significant interest in Bensouda's family members, obtaining copies of recordings of her husband, and then Israeli officials attempted to use this material to tarnish her reputation. "The Guardian" reported that in its efforts to influence Bensouda, Israel received support from an unexpected ally, former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila.
The information disclosed about Cohen's operation is part of an upcoming investigation being conducted by "The Guardian," alongside Israeli magazine +972 and Hebrew-language magazine "Local Call," which reveals how multiple Israeli intelligence agencies conducted a "war" against the ICC for nearly a year. In a statement to "The Guardian," a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, "The questions posed to us are filled with many unfounded false claims aimed at harming the state of Israel." Cohen did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Bensouda.
