The Attorney General of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, announced on Wednesday (March 3rd) that she had opened an investigation into alleged crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Israel had strongly opposed the opening of possible investigations.

Fatou Bensouda previously said there was a "reasonable basis" to believe that crimes were committed by members of the Israeli forces, Israeli authorities, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups during the 2014 Gaza war. .

"Today, I confirm the opening by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of an investigation into the situation in Palestine," she said in a statement.

"The investigation will focus on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court allegedly committed in the situation since June 13, 2014."

"A political decision", according to Israel

The Palestinian Authority reacted immediately, welcoming the ICC decision and calling the investigation "necessary".

"The crimes committed by the leaders of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, which are continuous, systematic and widespread crimes make the investigation necessary and urgent," the Palestinian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Israel, which is not a member of the ICC and has always vehemently opposed any action by the body in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, on Wednesday called Fatou Bensouda's announcement a "political decision. ".

ICC judges had paved the way for a war crimes investigation, ruling last month that the court had jurisdiction over the events in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In December 2019, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had already said she wanted a full investigation after a five-year preliminary investigation, while asking the ICC to determine whether its scope extended to the Palestinian Territories.

With AFP and Reuters

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR