分类： politics

The British government has officially acknowledged a contentious April 2024 telephone conversation between then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron and International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, marking the first formal confirmation of the exchange that allegedly involved threats over the ICC’s Gaza investigation.

The disclosure emerged through a Freedom of Information request filed by Unredacted, a national security research unit at the University of Westminster. In a January 2026 response letter, the Foreign Office’s Information Rights Unit stated: “The then Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, was the only person present on the call on 23 April 2024 with Karim Khan.”

This confirmation follows Prosecutor Khan’s recent statement to the ICC alleging that a “senior British official” threatened to withdraw UK funding from the court during the April 23rd conversation. The call occurred during a critical period—one month before Khan sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and coincided with intensifying international pressure regarding the Gaza war crimes investigation.

According to Middle East Eye’s previous reporting, which cited sources including former staff in Khan’s office who had seen meeting minutes, Cameron allegedly characterized the potential warrants as “like dropping a hydrogen bomb.” The former prime minister reportedly argued that while prosecuting Russia for Ukrainian aggression was justified, targeting Israel during its “self-defense” against October 7th attacks was fundamentally different. Cameron purportedly warned that the warrants would have “profound implications” in Britain and within his Conservative Party, threatening defunding and withdrawal from the Rome Statute if proceedings moved forward.

Professor Sam Raphael, International Relations and Human Rights expert at the University of Westminster, stated: “This raises serious questions about the role of a senior minister in threatening the impartiality of the ICC, especially given the myriad forms of military, intelligence and diplomatic support provided by the UK to Israel at the time.”

Legal experts consulted by MEE suggest Cameron’s alleged conduct may constitute an attack on judicial independence and potentially violate both the Rome Statute and British law regarding obstruction of justice. Two British MPs have subsequently called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to initiate an independent investigation into the allegations, noting that any attempted coercion of the ICC could breach Article 70 of the Rome Statute prohibiting interference with justice administration.

The ICC continues to face significant external pressure, particularly from Israel and the United States, since Khan’s decision to pursue warrants. The Trump administration has imposed financial and visa sanctions against Khan, his deputies, six judges, and Palestinian entities connected to the investigation, while threatening further measures against the court itself.

ICC judges are currently reviewing an Israeli challenge to the court’s jurisdiction over Palestine and a separate complaint questioning the prosecutor’s impartiality. Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 pending a UN investigation into unrelated sexual misconduct allegations, which he vigorously denies.

Iranian authorities have officially acknowledged 3,117 fatalities resulting from the nationwide anti-government demonstrations that commenced in late December. The protests erupted against a backdrop of severe economic deterioration and the unprecedented devaluation of the national currency.

According to a declaration from Iran’s Martyrs Foundation, 2,427 of the deceased were classified as ‘martyrs,’ comprising security personnel and innocent civilians caught in the unrest. The remaining casualties were identified as protesters. This official disclosure contrasts sharply with assessments from international human rights organizations, which allege significantly higher casualty figures and accuse security forces of employing excessive, lethal force against demonstrators.

Amiry-Moghaddam, a co-founder of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights NGO, provided disturbing accounts in a recent video interview with Middle East Eye, claiming that security personnel executed wounded individuals with headshots. These allegations are reinforced by data from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), which documented a death toll of 4,519. Their investigation details 4,251 protesters, 197 security personnel, 35 children, and 38 bystanders among the fatalities, with an additional 9,049 deaths under ongoing scrutiny. Hrana further reported at least 26,314 arrests and 5,811 individuals sustaining serious injuries.

Iranian leadership has consistently refuted accusations of security force brutality, instead attributing the unrest to foreign interference. Senior military officials, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, have accused the United States and Israel of deploying ISIS-affiliated mercenaries within Iran to attack both civilians and security forces. This rhetoric was amplified by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander General Mohammad Pakpour, who issued a stark warning to Israel and the US against ‘miscalculations,’ asserting that his forces had their ‘finger on the trigger.’

These developments unfolded alongside heightened international discourse on Iran. Israeli President Isaac Herzog publicly advocated for regime change in Iran during an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump indicated a openness to diplomatic negotiations with Tehran, stating that the initiative originated from Iranian officials and that Washington was prepared to engage.

China’s top anti-corruption authorities have demonstrated rigorous self-policing within their ranks, with latest figures revealing substantial disciplinary actions against internal personnel throughout 2025. According to official data released by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, disciplinary inspection and supervision organs nationwide initiated cases against 4,119 of their own cadres during the year.

The comprehensive enforcement effort resulted in disciplinary and administrative penalties for 3,763 officials, while 234 cases involving serious legal violations were transferred to judicial organs for criminal investigation. The scale of public oversight was equally significant, with these bodies receiving more than 40,200 reports concerning disciplinary inspection and supervision officials, of which over 35,000 were formally processed through established channels.

Notably, the enforcement actions reached across all administrative levels, including four provincial and ministerial-level officials, 116 prefectural and bureau-level cadres, and 746 county and division-level personnel. The disciplinary bodies employed China’s sophisticated “Four Forms” of supervision and enforcement mechanism to address approximately 13,900 cadres through graduated interventions.

The tiered approach to discipline enforcement saw 9,937 cases handled through the first form (criticism, education and rectification), 3,217 through the second form (organizational adjustments or minor penalties), 465 through the third form (heavy sanctions or significant post adjustments), and 282 through the fourth form (transfer to judicial organs for serious criminal violations). This structured methodology reflects China’s systematic approach to maintaining integrity within its anti-corruption apparatus through preventive measures and graduated sanctions.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has declared that regime change represents the only viable future for Iran, following widespread anti-government demonstrations that faced severe suppression. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Herzog characterized Iran’s clerical leadership as “fragile” and expressed solidarity with Iranian citizens demanding political transformation.

The protests, initially triggered by economic discontent in late December, rapidly evolved into a broader movement challenging the theocratic establishment that has governed Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. While demonstrations peaked in early January, activists report they have since diminished due to intense security measures and nationwide internet restrictions.

Herzog emphasized international responsibility, stating that supporting Iran’s transition must involve both the Iranian people and the global community. His comments align with Israel’s longstanding opposition to Iran’s government, though he stopped short of advocating direct intervention.

Iranian authorities acknowledged 3,117 fatalities during the unrest, though independent activists contend the actual death toll is significantly higher. This confrontation occurs against the backdrop of renewed regional tensions, including last year’s 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel that involved Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Tehran has previously accused Israel of attempting to destabilize national unity, particularly following statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing support for Iranian protesters. The exchange highlights the deepening geopolitical rift between the two Middle Eastern powers.

In a significant geopolitical development, former US President Donald Trump announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to join his proposed ‘Board of Peace’ initiative. This declaration comes despite the Kremlin maintaining that it is still evaluating the invitation.

Trump confidently stated to international media, ‘He was invited, he’s accepted. Many people have accepted,’ referencing his vaguely defined consortium of world leaders. The initiative, which has drawn skepticism from traditional U.S. allies, reportedly requires a $1 billion contribution for a permanent seat on the board.

Contradicting Trump’s straightforward assertion, President Putin provided a more measured response during a televised government meeting in Moscow. He revealed that he has instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to thoroughly analyze the proposal and consult with strategic partners before formulating an official reply.

In a strategically calculated move, Putin suggested that Russia could fund the billion-dollar membership fee using assets previously frozen by the previous American administration. Furthermore, he proposed these same frozen assets could be allocated to reconstruct territories damaged by hostilities, contingent upon the successful conclusion of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The ‘Board of Peace,’ initially conceptualized to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, appears to have expanded its purported scope according to its charter. The initiative now seemingly positions itself as a potential rival to established international organizations like the United Nations, drawing criticism from several European nations including France.