"The attempt to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction represents an attack on the countries that created it, the international legal order and the victims of mass crimes," said ICC President Tomoko Akane.

"The attempt to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction represents an attack on the countries that created it, the international legal order and the victims of mass crimes," said ICC President Tomoko Akane.

She emphasized that "the International Criminal Court will not submit to external threats."