The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensoda, announced on Friday that she will open a full investigation into allegations of war crimes in the Palestinian territories, which may include charges against Israelis or Palestinians, and while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced this and described the matter as “ A black day for truth and justice.
"I am convinced that ... war crimes were committed or committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in the Gaza Strip," Bensouda said in a statement.
Bensouda explained that, in light of the Palestinian lands 'request to enter the court, she does not need to request the judges' approval to start the investigation.
For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed in a statement that this announcement is "a step forward towards opening the long-awaited criminal investigation into the crimes committed and committed in the territory of the occupied Palestinian state, nearly five years after the start of the initial study on the situation in Palestine."
The ministry said, "This step is the first of its kind taken by the Prosecutor since she announced the start of the initial study on January 16, 2015."
And she saw that this step "only reflects the Prosecutor's intention to open a criminal investigation into the situation in Palestine, as soon as the Pre-Trial Chamber concludes its deliberations and a positive decision is issued regarding its regional jurisdiction."
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry affirmed that the Palestinian people have the right to demand all remedies and justice provided by international law, including asylum in the International Criminal Court, given the urgent necessity and magnitude of the situation in Palestine, which cannot be subject to further delay.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian News Agency, quoting the president of the National Committee responsible for follow-up with the International Criminal Court, Saeb Erekat, said that the decision of the International Criminal Court to conduct an investigation into war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank is a positive and encouraging step and a message of hope for the Palestinian people that achieving justice is possible.
He added that Palestine would provide all the support and cooperation required with the court, as it had done since its accession to the Rome Charter, and the start of the initial study.
He considered that this step would put an end to the impunity of the perpetrators of crimes, and contribute to preventing them leading to the achievement of justice.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the International Criminal Court "has no authority" to investigate allegations of war crimes in the Palestinian territories, describing it as a "black day of truth and justice."
"The court has no jurisdiction in this case," Netanyahu said in a statement. The court only has the power to hear petitions from sovereign states. ”
For its part, the Euromed Observatory for Human Rights called on all relevant parties, victims and their families to be ready to present their testimonies, statements and evidence available to them to assist the Prosecutor's Office and its team in the expected investigations.