Palestinian civilians urge ICC to speed up Israel ‘war crimes’ probe

Palestinian lawyers and civil society groups are urging the International Criminal Court to speed up inquiries and open a full investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

“Since two years Palestine is under preliminary examination,” says lawyer Gilles Devers, adding “in Gaza, we think two years is too long.”

Since the 2014 Gaza war, Palestinian officials have sought to prosecute Israel in the international court.

In January 2015, the tribunal opened a preliminary examination into alleged abuses by all sides in the conflict. And an ICC delegation visited Israel and the West Bank in late 2016.

But Palestinian activists say the investigation has stalled, calling for both the ICC and the PA to speed up efforts.

The group says it is taking action because of “the lack of political will on behalf of the Palestinian Authority” which it said had not made an official complaint as a state member of the ICC.

Devers says the group was also hoping to persuade the ICC to open a full investigation “as a matter of urgency” into the heightened tensions in Jerusalem sparked by new security measures imposed at the Temple Mount in the wake of a deadly terror attack at the holy site.

— with AFP