Israel has decided to pursue an open dialogue with the International Criminal Court in The Hague over its preliminary investigation into Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip last summer. Thursday's decision represents a reversal for Israel, as it has so far refused to cooperate with the ICC, a report in Haaretz newspaper said. The report quoted an unnamed official as saying Israel will not cooperate with the ICC, but will relay its position that the court has no authority over the matter. Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed the report, but declined to elaborate on the steps Israel plans to take in the matter. In May, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda urged Israel's cooperation on the probe, saying she may be forced to decide whether to launch a full-scale investigation based on Palestinian allegations of war crimes. The Palestinian Authority submitted evidence of alleged Israeli war crimes to the ICC in late June, in an attempt to fast-track the international panel's inquiry into last year's Gaza conflict. The ICC is currently conducting a preliminary investigation to determine whether to open a full-fledged war crimes probe. U.N. data suggest over 2,000 Palestinians, including more than 1,400 civilians, were killed in the conflict.
Israel to open dialogue with International Criminal Court
Foreign Ministry official confirms that Israel has decided to pursue talks with ICC over its preliminary probe into last summer's Gaza conflict • Decision a reversal of policy, as Israel has so far refused to cooperate with the ICC.
Load more...