ICC prosecutor urges investigation of Israeli war crimes in Palestine

Crescent International

Ramadan 08, 1441 2020-05-01

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

Israeli media has been ringing alarm bells after Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, presented a 60-page legal opinion to investigate Israel for war crimes it committed during the aggression on Gaza in 2014.

The Irish Times reported that “Israel says the ICC has no jurisdiction in the conflict because Palestine does not exist as a sovereign state. However, Ms. Bensouda decided that because the ‘State of Palestine’ is a signatory to the Rome Statute which set up the ICC, it is entitled to ‘convey criminal jurisdiction’ to the court. The prosecution has carefully considered other submissions and remains of the view that the court has jurisdiction over the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

In February 2020, Germany, Australia, Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Uganda argued that Palestine cannot transfer criminal jurisdiction over its territory to The Hague since it is not a state.

While the legal proceedings will likely last for many years and most probably be derailed by pro-Zionist NATO governments, the case adds additional political pressure on Israel.

The global political and economic tide is turning against Israel’s biggest backers who give it a pass for virtually all crimes.

If the ICC is forced to bend its rules to accommodate Israel’s untouchability it will undermine the court’s credibility.

Overall, 2020 has been politically difficult for the Zionist entity.

Just yesterday the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) won a landmark court victory against the British regime’s attempt to clamp down on boycott of Israel.

In January 2020, the Montreal City Council rejected to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism which equates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

While Israeli crimes against Palestinians are never addressed to deliver justice, the global public at least is becoming more aware of them.

Nevertheless, Zionist Israel’s anti-Semitic policies rarely get discussed, a phenomenon ICC should also look at.