The Dutch public prosecution service is considering a request to open a criminal case against Israeli intelligence officials for allegedly interfering with an investigation by the international criminal court (ICC), the Guardian reported on Tuesday.

The request was filed last week by a group of 20 people, mainly Palestinian, asking the department to examine allegations Israel tried to derail the ICC’s inquiry into alleged crimes in the occupied territories.

The ICC is hosted in The Hague and the Dutch state is required under an agreement with the court to protect the safety and security of ICC staff, and must ensure it is “free from interference of any kind”.

The paper said at the end of May that Israel has run an almost decade-long secret “war” against the court. “The country deployed its intelligence agencies to surveil, hack, pressure, smear and allegedly threaten senior ICC staff in an effort to derail the court’s inquiries,” the paper said.

The investigation was carried out together with Israeli-Palestinian news organisation  +972 and Israeli website Local Call.

The ICC was established in 2002 as a permanent court of last resort for the prosecution of individuals accused of some of the world’s worst atrocities. The court is recognised by over 100 countries, but not the United States or Russia.

On May 20, court chief prosecutor Karin Khan said he is seeking warrants against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas leaders implicated in the 7 October attacks.