The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court can immediately start examining allegations of war crimes against Israel if she chooses, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador said Thursday.
Riyadh Mansour told a group of reporters that Palestine's formal acceptance of the court's jurisdiction starting June 13, 2014 gives prosecutor Fatou Bensouda a green light to take up the question of alleged war crimes on Palestinian territory without waiting for Palestine to formally become a member of the court on April 1.
"It is within her discretion that she can do that," Mansour said.
Fadi El Abdallah, a spokesman for the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, confirmed that the prosecutor can now in theory begin a "preliminary examination" of potential cases in the Palestinian territories. Bensouda has not announced any such examination yet.
ZIONISM ON TRIAL
The potential cases could include allegations of war crimes by Israel during last summer's Gaza war where the Palestinians suffered heavy civilian casualties. Israel's settlement construction on occupied Palestinian lands could also be examined.
The cases could also include alleged war crimes by Hamas, which controls Gaza, including the firing of hundreds of rockets into Israeli territory.
"Given past practice we would expect the prosecutor to begin a preliminary examination during which she would decide if she will take the next step and open an actual investigation," said Richard Dicker, director of international justice at Human Rights Watch.
