A delegation from the prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories this week to “promote better understanding” about its work, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says.
The trip from Wednesday until October 10 will be the first to the region by officials from the world’s only permanent war crimes court since the 2014 Gaza war.
The team will travel to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah, Bensouda says in a statement, for “meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials at the working levels.”
But she makes no mention of whether the delegation will travel to Gaza and stresses the visit is not aimed at investigating any allegations.
Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, December 18, 2012 (AP/Robin van Lonkhuijsen, Pool)
At the request of the Palestinians, Bensouda’s office has opened an initial probe into alleged war crimes by both sides during the July-August 2014 conflict.
She says the visit is “not linked” to her preliminary investigation which she said “is ongoing and is following its normal course.”
“The purpose of this visit will be to undertake outreach and education activities with a view to raising awareness about the ICC and in particular, about the work of the office,” Bensouda says.
The delegation from her office “will not engage in evidence collection in relation to any alleged crimes,” she adds.
— AFP
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