AFP – 1 April 2015 – Palestine formally joined the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, a move the Palestinians hope could open the door to the possible prosecution of Israelis for alleged war crimes.
The accession was marked at a closed-door ceremony at ICC headquarters in The Hague, exactly 90 days after Palestine joined the court’s founding Rome Statute.
The Palestinians called on Israel to also join the global court, which was set up in 2002 to try crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
Exasperated after decades of failed negotiations with Israel and no prospect of achieving statehood anytime soon, Palestinians have been waging a campaign for recognition at international bodies including the ICC.
“Palestine seeks justice, not vengeance,” foreign minister Riad Malki said after received a symbolic copy of the Rome Statute at the ceremony.
“Israel should join us in becoming a member of the International Criminal Court,” Malki said.
ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in January launched a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes during last year’s Gaza war.
The Palestinians have already sent the court documents authorizing the prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories since June 2014.
 

A Palestinian family visits the graves of relatives killed in the 50-day war in 2014

About 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis were killed during the 50-day conflict in July and August.
The Palestinians could in theory now refer a specific situation to the court, such as Jewish settlement building on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank.
The Palestinians won observer status at the United Nations in 2012 and according to the Palestinian Authority, around 135 countries have now recognized the state of Palestine.
 

A Palestinian sits amid the rubble of buildings that were destroyed during the 50-day war in the summer of 2014, in Gaza