The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor has expressed concern over pressure the court is facing from the US regarding its investigations into Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, Anadolu reports.

In an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, Karim Khan disclosed that ICC officials were receiving personal “threats” from supporters of Russia and Israel.

“If we allow these types of attacks … threats … to dismantle or erode the legal institutions that have been built since the Second World War, does anybody believe it will end with the International Criminal Court?” warned Khan.

Noting that Japan is the biggest funder of the ICC, Khan urged Japan’s cooperation in influencing the US. “You cannot allow an attack on the court … then you have no rules-based system,” said Khan, adding: “It’s better for the country and better for the world, almost invariably, to have the courage to stand on principle rather than standing on expediency.”

“Our responsibility is to use our resources effectively to investigate incriminating and exonerating evidence equally until such time as we feel that the major criminal allegations have been thoroughly investigated,” Khan said.