The State of Palestine submitted today its arguments to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I regarding the situation in Palestinian territories.
The submission concerns a request by the ICC Prosecutor’s Office for arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and Defense Minister. These warrants are sought due to the fact that the Israeli authorities have committed serious international crimes, threatening global peace and security.
In its presentation, the State of Palestine emphasized that any attempts to politicize the court or undermine its legal jurisdiction would deny justice to the Palestinian people.
The State of Palestine argued that the crimes committed by Israeli officials, including high-ranking figures in the Israeli government, are carried out systematically and on a wide scale under official government policies. It said these actions occur amidst a climate of impunity and lack of accountability.
Palestine stressed that its accession to the Rome Statute was intended to gain judicial support and assistance in achieving justice for international crimes committed in Palestinian territories by Israeli leaders and citizens.
The State pointed out the persistent failure of Israeli occupation authorities to investigate and prosecute these crimes, demonstrating a lack of willingness to address the violations.
Palestine expressed confidence that the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber will base its decision on the Rome Statute and international accountability standards, despite efforts by some parties to politicize the court’s work.
It warned that such interference could lead to a scenario where political ambitions overshadow the rule of law and justice, thereby hindering the international community’s commitment to accountability.
source: WAFA
