ICC studying Palestine decision
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court say they will study what the Palestinian Authority’s upgraded status means for its relationship with the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal.
In a one-paragraph reaction to the historic United Nations General Assembly vote, the court’s prosecution office said today it “will consider the legal implications of this resolution”.
In April, prosecutors rejected a Palestinian bid to get the Hague-based court to investigate possible war crimes during an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip that began in December 2008.
The Palestinian Authority attempted to empower the court to investigate by unilaterally recognising its jurisdiction, but prosecutors said only internationally recognised states could accept jurisdiction.
Israel is not a member of the 10-year-old court.
