BICOM
8th February 2021
What happened:Â On Friday, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) three-member Pre-Trial Chamber voted 2-1 that the court has jurisdiction over possible crimes committed in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
The decision allows the prosecutor to pursue allegations of war crimes by Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Israelâs Security Cabinet met yesterday and completely rejected the âscandalous decisionâ of the court. The Cabinet âdetermines that the court has no authority to make such a decision. Israel is not a member of the international court and the Palestinian Authority does not have the status of a stateâ.
Joe Biden speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Federation of Labor Convention (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia)
As you know the International Criminal Court ruled Friday that it has jurisdiction to undertake an investigation of war crimes in occupied Palestinian territories, including Israeli settlements and its slaughter of civilians in Gaza. The decision has big symbolic resonance, and there’s been a lot of response. I wanted to round up some of the usual suspects.
The State Department began Friday by issuing a neutral legal statement opposing the ICC’s jurisdiction (responding to AP reporter Matt Lee’s opening question). “We have serious concerns about the ICC’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel…. [T]he court’s jurisdiction should be reserved for countries that consent to it or that are referred by the UN Security Council.”
Israel had prepared a confidential list of past and present officials who might be wanted by the international court, in the wake of decision on possible war crimes ■ Officials say several member states have agreed to warn Israel of any plan to arrest Israelis
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Defense Minister Benny Gantz, left, speaks to IDF soldiers during a visit to the IDF Central Command in Jerusalem, on September 15, 2020. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Saturday sent a letter to the IDF calling the International Criminal Court’s ruling claiming it has jurisdiction to open a war crimes investigation against Israel “grave” and “unauthorized.” Gantz asserted the decision is intended to serve as a tool for Israel’s enemies, and promised to shield troops from any repercussions.
“The defense establishment, together with the other state bodies, will act resolutely to prevent harm to IDF commanders and soldiers, and to members of the entire defense establishment,” he said.