Palestine seeks ICC probe into ‘Israeli war crimes’

January 2, 2015 | By hromedia | Reply More

Jan 02, – Along with the letters of accession to the ICC, Palestine has reportedly filed a request to the Hague to investigate Israeli war crimes during the 50-day war in Gaza last summer. Palestinian officials have not yet commented on the Israeli media reports.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas signed the request to probe IDF’s use of force starting June 13, 2014 along with the letters of accession to the International Criminal court on Wednesday night, an unnamed NGO worker told Haaretz. On Friday the batch of newly signed documents and the petition are expected to be received by the UN secretary-general.

“As far as the Palestinian leadership is concerned, everything that had to be done to join the International Criminal Court has been done,” a Palestine Liberation Organization official told the publication.

The source stressed that official membership would enable Palestinians to file complaints against Israel without the hindrance of bureaucracy of the Palestinian Authority. The source added that Hamas leader are willing to risk standing trial at the ICC as long as Israel is brought to justice for their actions against militants in Gaza that resulted in a massive civilian casualties.

The seven weeks of Israeli bombardment and ground operation in Gaza killed more than 2,200 people – the vast majority of them civilians.

During the Gaza war, the Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and top Palestinian and Hamas officials sealed a deal agreed to joining the ICC, knowing willingly that in response Tel Aviv might file a counter-compliant for war crimes.

Press journalist for HOR media – Khizer Hayat reports.