The Authority welcomes ... and Israel considers the decision "legal bankruptcy."

The International Criminal Court opens an investigation into the "crimes of the Palestinian territories"

Bensouda confirmed that the court will bear the responsibilities despite the difficulties.

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The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, announced that it had opened an official investigation into alleged crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a move welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and confirmed that it was long overdue. In return, Israel considered the investigation decision to be "legal bankruptcy."

Bensouda said in a statement yesterday, "The investigation will cover crimes within the jurisdiction of the court, which are supposed to have been committed since June 13, 2014", and stressed that "the investigation will be conducted independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favoritism." The focus of attention must be on the victims of crimes. ”

She added that her office will determine the priorities related to the investigation in a timely manner, in light of the challenges related to the Corona pandemic, the limited resources available, and the heavy workload required of the court to complete.

She added that these other challenges and difficulties could not distract the Office from assuming the ultimate responsibilities under the Rome Statute.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into war crimes in the Palestinian territories, and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, "This step is long overdue in Palestine's relentless endeavor to achieve justice and accountability as indispensable foundations for the peace that the Palestinian people demand and deserve."

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the ICC investigation as "anti-Semitic," and said that "Israel will fight with all its might to protect its soldiers."

For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi described the decision of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into war crimes in the Palestinian territories as "moral and legal bankruptcy."

He stressed that "Israel will take all necessary steps to protect its citizens and soldiers."

Ashkenazi said that "this decision is political, which the plaintiff made at the end of her mandate," noting that "the decision will only lead to more polarization between Israelis and Palestinians and to divert them from the dialogue required to resolve the conflict between them."

It is noteworthy that Israel is not a member of the court, which was established in 2002, while the Palestinians joined it in 2015.

• Netanyahu confirms that Israel will fight with all its might to protect its soldiers.

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