Prefer Jewish News on Google
Israel could be prosecuted for war crimes with ICC ruling Palestine is a state
Under the 60-page decision, the International Criminal Court may exercise its jurisdiction in “territory” that “comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.”
Palestine is a state and the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction involving its cases, the ICC prosecutor ruled Thursday, which could pave the way for a war crimes investigation against Israel.
A three-judge panel of the ICC Pretrial Chamber must now affirm the decision by Fatou Bensouda.
Israel has been accused of committing war crimes in the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Israel is not a signer of the Rome Statute and therefore is not a part of the ICC. The Palestinian Authority is, even though it is not a full member state of the United Nations.
Under Bensouda’s 60-page decision, the ICC may exercise its jurisdiction in “territory” that “comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.”
Some 50 briefs, both for and against Israel, were filed in the case. The countries that have filed briefs in support of Israel include the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Australia, Hungary, Brazil and Uganda, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The ICC is overseen by the Assembly of State Parties, the legislative branch of the organisation, which has accepted Palestine as a state.
NGO Monitor, a pro-Israel watchdog group, criticised Bensouda’s decision.
“She completely ignores the overwhelming and decisive information provided to the Court by dozens of Middle East and legal experts as well as seven ICC Member States, proving that the Court has no jurisdiction in this matter,” the group said in a statement. “Instead, she relies on unsupported claims by pro-BDS and terror-linked NGOs and one-sided rhetoric from biased UN bodies, like the Human Rights Council.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
