- Title: ICC-PALESTINIANS/EXAMINATION/REAX Palestinians welcome ICC inquiry
- Date: 17th January 2015
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JANUARY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEMBER OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION (PLO) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, HANAN ASHRAWI, IN HER OFFICE AWARD IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION (PLO) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, HANAN ASHRAWI, SAYING: "We believe this is a very important step, however modest, because for the
- Embargoed: 1st February 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA87ZHWF1K16WCY77X3UXTKEK63
- Story Text: Palestinian officials were optimistic on Saturday (January 17) after the International Criminal Court announced it would launch an inquiry into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
In a statement on Friday (January 16), prosecutors said they would examine "in full independence and impartiality" crimes that may have occurred since June 13 last year.
This allows the court to delve into the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza in July-August 2014 during which more than 2,100 Palestinians and 73 Israelis were killed.
In the West Bank city of Ramallah, high-ranking P.L.O official, Hanan Ashrawi, said it was a turning point.
"We believe this is a very important step, however modest, because for the first time in its history, since its creation, Israel is going to be subject to accountability, especially to legal and judicial accountability, in terms of its own persistent violations of Palestinian rights and international law," she said.
"So now this signals to Israel that it is no longer subject to preferential treatment, entitlement, a sense of exceptionalism, and of course, impunity and power politics. Israel has to be treated like all other countries in the world and it has to be subject to the law and not above the law," she added.
Prosecutors will assess evidence of alleged crimes and determine if they are of sufficient gravity and scale to warrant charges against individuals on either side.
An initial inquiry could lead to war crimes charges against Israel, whether relating to the recent Gaza war or its 47-year-long occupation of the West Bank. It also occupied Gaza from 1967-2005.
Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said the inquiry was a positive step.
"This is an important and unprecedented step in the right direction which gives the Palestinians hope that they, the Zionist criminal leaders, will be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court," he said from his office in Gaza.
The examination was branded as "an outrage" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has confirmed the Palestinians - whose peace talks with Israel have collapsed - will formally become an ICC member on April 1 at their request.
The U.S. State Department said it strongly disagreed with the move. The United States has argued that Palestine is not a state and therefore not eligible to join the ICC. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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