ICC to Investigate Alleged Israeli War Crimes

YERUSHALAYIM
ICC, Mavi Marmara
The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague announced Wednesday that it will officially open an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes committed in Yehudah, Shomron and the Gaza Strip.

In February, the ICC ruled that it has the jurisdiction to probe such allegations with respect to activity in Yehudah, Shomron, the Gaza Strip and Eastern Yerushalayim.

Such war crimes suits could be leveled at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, defense ministers and any other high-level officials involved in such activity since June 13, 2014. Soldiers and commanders could also be targeted.

The date is significant. Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and murdered three Israeli teens in the Gush Etzion area the day before. By asking for an investigation beginning from June 13, the ICC will not look into the killing of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel, Hy”d.

The new development is a decision by the ICC chief prosecutor to further investigate and file a war crimes charge. The process could still be a protracted and lengthy one.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister and Acting Justice Minister Benny Gantz alarmed government officials when he warned that hundreds of Israelis could be subject to war crimes probes by the International Criminal Court.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said after the decision of the ICC that “the State of Israel is under attack today. The biased International Criminal Court in The Hague has made a decision that is the essence of anti-Semitism and the essence of hypocrisy.

“The court doesn’t say anything about the real war crimes that Iran and Syria commit. We will fight for the truth and cancel this decision.”

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