Palestinian Minister of Justice Muhammad al-Shalaldeh said that his country will "continue to move forward" to hold Israel accountable for its violations and crimes before international and regional courts.

Minister Shalaldeh said that the International Criminal Court "is required to investigate immediately" and provide a list of names of those accused of committing crimes against the Palestinian people, in an interview with Anadolu Agency in his office in Ramallah.

He stated that "Palestine will continue to move forward to hold Israel accountable for its violations and crimes that amount to war crimes before international and regional courts," referring to the recent execution of Palestinian Ammar Mufleh in the town of Huwwara, which he said was a "crime against humanity."

A week ago, the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) reported that an Israeli soldier executed a young man with live bullets from zero distance, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.

And a video clip - circulated by Palestinian pages on social networks - showed that an Israeli soldier was jostling with a Palestinian, before the soldier fired from zero distance at the Palestinian.


The Palestinian minister pointed out that the International Criminal Court "resolved the matter and proved that it has jurisdiction and authority over the Palestinian territories," and opened a preliminary investigation into these crimes, as it "listened and documented a number of them while listening to the testimonies of Palestinians."

He explained that the hearings for the witnesses took place in Jordan, because Israel prevented the International Criminal Court from entering the Palestinian territories.

He added, "What is required now is the immediate investigation of the perpetrators of the crimes and the submission of a list of the names of the accused."

And in 2018, Palestine submitted a request for referral to the “International Criminal Court” for an Israeli crime file that included 3 cases, which are settlements, prisoners, and the aggression against Gaza (2014), including the border violations of the “March of Return and Breaking the Siege” that lasted from March 2018 to December December 2019.

And in late 2014, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed the "Rome Charter" and its annexes related to the International Criminal Court, while the latter agreed to Palestine's request, of which it has become a member since April 1, 2015.

A harsh scene.. the moment an occupation soldier executed a Palestinian youth in Hawara, south of Nablus.# Palestine pic.twitter.com/yrPsrhsuoY

Quds News Network (@qudsn) December 2, 2022

In the context, Minister Shalaldeh indicated that there is discrimination in the international judiciary, and said, "We note the distinction of the international judiciary, including the International and Criminal Court of Justice. These courts and the UN Security Council moved to investigate the crimes committed in Ukraine and did not move towards the Palestinian issue."

He added that the occupying power is committing the most heinous crimes against the Palestinian people, including the crime of apartheid and murder.

He also referred to the movie "Tantura", which documented a crime committed by Israel in 1948, and said, "Tantura is an example, and there are more than 500 Palestinian villages that were wiped out, their inhabitants were displaced, and a large part of them were killed."

He continued, "The Palestinian people deserve a decision by the Security Council and the General Assembly to provide international protection. Protection to bear arms, not international observers."

The Palestinian Minister of Justice called on the international community to consider forcing the Israeli occupation authority to respect international agreements, noting that "Israel, since 1967, has refused to receive any commission of inquiry or fact-finding."

He also said, "If the international tribunal does not move to prosecute Israel, this weakens the court's work, and therefore the law that prevails at the time is the law of force, which is rejected."

reform the United Nations

On the other hand, Minister Shalaldeh called on the international community to work to stop the "racist violations" against the Palestinians, considering that this is "the responsibility of the United Nations."

He stressed the need to "reconsider legal reforms within the corridors of the United Nations, especially the Security Council, by expanding the permanent members of the Council so that there is no abuse of power by the United States, which uses its veto against the Palestinian people."

Al-Shalaldeh asked, "Why don't powerful countries be added to the permanent Security Council, such as Turkey, India, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, and others?" He also accused the United States and Israel of working to "weaken the principles of international law."

Israel accountability

Al-Shalaldeh indicated - during the interview - that his country is determined to pursue Israel in all international courts and forums, as well as regional courts such as European, African and American human rights.

He pointed out that "war criminals can be prosecuted in the courts of the countries whose nationalities they hold (dual nationalities)."

He stressed that he must "go to the United Nations to freeze Israel's membership, whose admission to the United Nations was conditional on the establishment of the State of Palestine."

He also stressed the importance of the United Nations requesting the Court of Justice for a legal opinion on the long-term Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967. He said, "The fatwa, which is expected to be in favor of Palestine, will be of value and reference issued by the United Nations General Assembly."

Last November 12, 98 countries voted in favor of a draft resolution in the Fourth Committee - the Special Political and Decolonization Committee - of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, while 17 countries opposed it and 52 countries abstained.

The text of the resolution stated, “The General Assembly requests the International Court of Justice to urgently issue an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s continued violation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, its long-term occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian land, in addition to the impact of Israel’s policies on the legal situation.” for occupation.”