Mossad chief Yossi Cohen ‘stalked’ ICC prosecutor over war crimes inquiry

The head of Mossad threatened the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor over her decision to open a formal investigation into Israeli war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories, a joint investigation by the Guardian and +972 mag has revealed. 

Yossi Cohen, who at the time was director of the Israeli spy agency, helmed an operation to pressure Fatou Bensouda into abandoning her inquiry.

In the years leading up to Bensouda's decision to open the inquiry in 2021, Cohen allegedly deployed “despicable tactics”, according to accounts by ICC officials who likened his behaviour to “stalking”.

According to one account, Cohen told Bensouda: “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.”

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