Palestine formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, opening the door to the prosecution of Israelis for war crimes amid a stalled peace process.
The accession was marked by a behind-closed doors ceremony at the court’s headquarters in The Hague; exactly 90 days after Palestine joined the court’s founding Rome Statute.
Palestine signed the court’s founding treaty in January this year and it came into force today (Wednesday). This is an event that has been welcomed by activists who see this is an opportunity to bring liability to years of conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Though Israel is not a member of the ICC, the country’s military and civilian leaders could face the charges if they have committed crimes on Palestinian territory.
A preliminary investigation was opened up in mid-January by the court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, after the Palestinians formally accepted the court’s jurisdiction dating back to just before last year’s Gaza conflict.
