The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked by five countries to investigate possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan said last week.

Norway is not among the five countries. Norwegian authorities also have no plans to issue such an appeal.

Andres Kravik, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOF), explained that it is important for Norway to maintain the independence of the judiciary.

– It is vital for the legitimacy of the ICC that its own prosecutor can prioritize the way it conducts investigations, including the ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine. Therefore, this is not relevant to Norway’s actions which can be considered a guide to the ICC’s independence, Kravik wrote in an email to Dagbladet.

A different approach towards Russia

The ministry took a somewhat different approach to the judiciary when Russia carried out its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor stated four days later that he wanted to open an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine. It happened on March 2, by request Norway and 38 other countries.

– The fight against impunity is at the heart of Norway’s foreign policy. This is a clear message that acts of war will be investigated, and that any war crimes and other serious crimes on Ukrainian territory will be subject to prosecution, then-Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap) said in a statement. pers conference.

Jo Jakobsen, NTNU political science professor, said both statements made no sense. This is not a legal issue, he explained, but a matter of the interests of big countries.

– The reality is that Norway is not interested in ending the conflict with Israel, beyond the signals that have come from its prime minister, Jakobsen told Dagbladet.

For Norway, he believes an appeal to the ICC will have a negative impact.

– If interests dictate that you can go all out, then do it. Norway has close ties with the US and the EU, Jakobsen said.

Families trapped in Gaza: – They have no future

Researcher: – It is important to gather support

The ICC has been investigating possible war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories since 2014. This investigation has been ongoing since 2021, and has faced opposition from Israel and the United States.

Calls from member states of the Supreme Court are still not excessive, explained Geir Ulfstein, professor emeritus of international law at UiO.

– Such a request shows political support from these states, which gives extra weight to the investigation and can secure additional resources for the court, Ulfstein told Dagbladet.

He believes that the government’s statement that it believes that international law has been violated in Israel and Gaza since October 7 makes the call even more relevant.

– It is important to gather as much support as possible for the ICC’s investigation into possible war crimes, Ulfstein said.

The five calls received so far came from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros and Djibouti.

– Would it matter to the ICC if Norway joined them?

– Therefore, it would be more symbolic if countries like Norway broke away from Western countries; yes, but this would have a negative impact on what Norway considers to be its own interests, says NTNU professor Jakobsen.

He believes that the approach to both wars highlights the double standards that exist in international politics.

– The hypocrisy is very clear now, says Jakobsen.

Forecasting expansion: – Massive displacement

Victory of Russian propaganda

Russia has benefited from the fact that the world’s eyes have been turned to the Middle East in recent weeks, while the country has continued its war in Ukraine.

At the same time, the Kremlin has used the war between Israel and Hamas to highlight double standards – especially from America, which supports Israel’s war on Gaza, while at the same time condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The NTNU professor believes that the rules of war are at a crossroads.

– It has now been proven that anything is valid if you feel like you are in existential conflict. This set a precedent for the future, and was seen by Russia as a major propaganda victory, Jakobsen said.

Karim Khan acknowledged in October that the court’s investigation into conditions in the Palestinian territories was progressing slowly.

– It has been an ongoing problem that the courts as a whole and my office do not have sufficient funds to allow us to do our work. “I have created a team and in two years I have increased the team’s resources,” Khan said in an interview with Reuters.

By comparison, broad support for the Ukraine investigation ensured the court allocated funding, coordination and technology from 45 countries.

– The investigation will definitely go smoothly, but I don’t think this will be a big problem for Israel, said Jakobsen.

He justified this by saying that the West is not interested in promoting Israel as a war criminal. The ICC also does not have the authority to follow up on its own decisions.

– This could also complicate the persecution of Russia, as Israel is also doing the same thing in Gaza, Jakobsen said.