Israel’s foreign ministry is reportedly instructing its ambassadors to target experts in countries that accept announcements from the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip, according to Axios. This information comes from a leaked internal memo. The North African Republic recently filed a request claiming that Israel’s military occupation of Gaza violates the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Genocide. The request also alleges that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute ethnic cleansing. Israel has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction, but has taken steps against the previous actions and signed the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide. Israel will present its case to the International Court of Justice with British barrister Malcolm Shaw. The court’s decision will have significant political and operational consequences.

According to leaked documents, Israel’s foreign ministry has requested its ambassadors to make clear and substantial public announcements that reject the baseless accusations made against Israel. The 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Genocide defines genocide as a condition that endangers the existence of a population and implies the intent to destroy it. The ministry has also instructed diplomats to send similar announcements from other countries’ Prime Ministers and heads of state. The US administration under President Joe Biden has already rejected the contact made by the African Republic.

The International Criminal Court has established high thresholds and difficult procedural hurdles, making it challenging to navigate, as the report concludes.