ICC
prosecutor says Israel committing war
crimes, opens investigation
By ICH & Agencies
December 21, 2019 "Information
Clearing House" -"In brief, I am
satisfied that war crimes have been or are being
committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
and the Gaza Strip," Fatou Bensouda wrote
in her statement.
"Given the unique and highly contested
legal and factual issues attaching to this situation,"
she has requested the ICC to confirm "that the
'territory' over which the Court may exercise its
jurisdiction, and which I may subject to investigation,
comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and
Gaza."
"Based on the available
information, there is a reason to believe that war
crimes were committed in the context of the 2014
hostilities in Gaza," referring to
Operation Protective Edge,
which was launched after regional tensions came to a
head following the murder of three Israeli teens and a
Palestinian youth, as well as ceaseless rocket fire from
the Strip.
Bensouda wrote that "the Israel Defense
Forces intentionally launched disproportionate attacks
in relation to at least three incidents which the ICC
has focused, as well as intentionally directing an
attack against objects or persons using the distinctive
emblems of the Geneva Conventions."
In addition, the opinion said, "there is
a reasonable basis to believe that in the context of
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, members of the Israeli authorities have
committed war crimes in relation, inter alia, to the
transfer of Israeli civilians into the West Bank since
June 13, 2014.
Bensoura wrote that "Despite the clear and enduring
calls that Israel cease activities in the Palestinian
Territories deemed contrary to international law, there
is no indication that they will end. To the contrary,
there are indications that they may not only continue,
but that Israel may seek to annex these territories."
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