Palestine welcomes the "Criminal" decision: a victory for humanity and respect for justice and international covenants

Palestine welcomes the "Criminal" decision: a victory for humanity and respect for justice and international covenants

The State of Palestine has welcomed the announcement by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, that the procedures for the formal investigation of the occupation crimes committed by the occupation, and still are, in the occupied Palestinian territories will begin.

Earlier, Wednesday, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, announced the opening of an official investigation into war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories, and decided to open the investigation as of the thirteenth of June 2014 (that is, shortly before the aggression on Gaza).

Bensouda indicated that the order of priorities that will be given to the investigation will be determined later, according to the challenges of the Corona pandemic (Covid-19) and the limited resources of the court, noting that it made the decision under the Rome Statute, after the court made a decision that there is a basis to open the investigation, and said: "We are obligated to act."

It indicated that the investigations will be conducted independently and objectively, and all facts and evidence will be revealed in order to reach those responsible for the crimes.

Al-Maliki: Opening an investigation by the International Criminal Court proves respect for its mandate and independence

In turn, welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates d. Riyad Al-Maliki, in a press statement read after the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in its 155th session held today at the headquarters of the General Secretariat today, Wednesday, headed by Qatar, that the State of Palestine reminds the General Prosecutor and the states parties that the crimes committed by the leaders of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people are ongoing, systematic and widespread crimes. This makes the rapid completion of the investigation an urgent and necessary necessity, in line with the mandate of the International Criminal Court to combat impunity and deter the perpetrators of these crimes.

Al-Maliki added: The State of Palestine believes that the Public Prosecutor´s decision to open a criminal investigation and the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber demonstrates its respect for its mandate and independence, and its commitment to the values ​​and principles of criminal justice as stipulated in the Rome Statute, and this is considered courage in the face of unprecedented threats and miserable attempts to politicize its work. . The State of Palestine calls on states parties to respect their responsibilities and not to politicize the course of this independent investigation, and stresses that all states must respect their obligations to protect the court from any interference and to ensure that all members of the court, including the judges, the prosecutor, and their families, are protected from any threat or attempt of coercion from any Party was.

Al-Maliki also affirmed the continuation of its full cooperation and willingness to provide any assistance required in implementation of its obligations as a state party to the Rome Statute in order to serve the achievement of justice for the Palestinian people in accordance with the legal controls stipulated in the Rome Statute.

Minister Al-Maliki said in a statement at the headquarters of the Arab League: We have waited 6 years since we became members of the International Criminal Court and committed ourselves to the Rome decision since 2014 until the moment, indicating that we are waiting for this moment for the sake of redress for the victims of the Palestinian people from the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation throughout the years.

Al-Maliki explained: that since we joined the Criminal Court since 2014, it will not look into the crimes that were committed before that, but we emphasize the size of those crimes that have been committed, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, which required the public prosecutor to make its decision today to open an official investigation into these crimes that were committed. Committed by the occupation.

He said: We congratulate the Palestinian people and congratulate the Palestinian victims, as their patience and steadfastness have given a result, and today we see a new page in the opening of punishment and that Israel, which considered itself as a state above the law and that it could not reach the hand of accountability and accountability, in the end took the International Criminal Court By taking the decision to open an official investigation into these crimes committed against Israeli political, military and security officials, stressing that they must stand before the International Criminal Court.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement, this evening, Wednesday, that this long-awaited step serves Palestine´s relentless endeavor to achieve justice and accountability as indispensable foundations for the peace that the Palestinian people demand and deserve.

It considered that the Prosecutor´s decision to open a criminal investigation and the decision of the First Pre-Trial Chamber demonstrates her respect for her mandate and independence, and her commitment to the values ​​and principles of criminal justice as stipulated in the Rome Statute, and this is considered courage in the face of unprecedented threats and miserable attempts to politicize her work.

The State of Palestine called on the states parties to respect their responsibilities and not to politicize the course of this independent investigation, and that all states parties must respect their obligations to protect the court from any interference and ensure that all members of the court, including the judges, the public prosecutor, and their families are protected from any threat or attempt of coercion from any party whatsoever. .

Al-Tamimi: A victory for humanity and respect for justice and international covenants

In turn, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Head of the Human Rights and Civil Society Department, Ahmed Saeed Al-Tamimi, welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court to officially start investigating procedures for the crimes of the occupation that it committed and is still in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Al-Tamimi said in a statement today, Wednesday, "This decision is a victory for humanity and respect for justice and international laws and conventions, before it is a victory for the just Palestinian cause, and it expresses the will of the court that is based on the values ​​of human justice and reflects the truth of its independence despite the pressures it is subjected to."

Al-Tamimi added, "This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts and painstaking work of the Palestinian leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Palestinian, Arab and international human rights institutions that joined forces to realize the truth."

Al-Tamimi considered that this decision is a "serious step to prosecute the occupation and its leaders for their ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people, and a serious measure that will place the occupation and its leaders under trial and condemnation."

Fatah: The decision confirms the independence of the Palestinian decision that took this step, despite the threats

Meanwhile, the "Fatah" movement welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court to open an international investigation into the Israeli war crimes in Palestine, and congratulated the Palestinian people on reaching the day Palestine used the right it possessed as a result of its accession to the International Criminal Court.

"We thank all the countries that have supported the Palestinian right, and the role of judges and Attorney General Fati Bensouda," Fatah spokesman Jamal Nazzal said in a statement today.

He continued: The main credit for reaching Palestine today is due to the decision of President Mahmoud Abbas supported by the Fatah movement and the Palestinian leadership to join the Rome Statute that qualifies for membership in the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Nazzal said: This decision enhances the effectiveness, feasibility and credibility of the road that the leadership built and supported by the Fatah movement, in order to achieve the Palestinian right without the approval of the occupation or a green light from any country in the world, which confirms the independence of the Palestinian decision that took this step despite threats and pressures. Political, financial and blockade.

Hamas: An important step for achieving justice and fairness for our people

In turn, Hamas welcomed, this evening, Wednesday, the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into war crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people.

"The courageous decision is an important step in achieving justice and fairness to our people and punishing the occupation leadership for its crimes," said Hazem Qassem, the movement’s spokesman, for its crimes, while Qassem called on the court to resist any potential pressures that could prevent it from completing its mission.

Adalah: A first step on a long road to achieving justice for the Palestinian people

Meanwhile, Adalah welcomed the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, to open an investigation into committing war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and sees it as confirmation of his allegations for years, in the corridors of Israeli courts and before international organizations.

The Adalah Center for International Investigation considers the commission of war crimes a first step on a long road to achieving justice for the Palestinian people who have suffered and suffer from the policies of the occupation and for the victims of the terrible crimes that are committed on a daily basis and blatantly. The Israeli system, with all its institutions, protects the perpetrators of these crimes, and does not investigate or bring any suspected perpetrators to trial. On the contrary, it grants them immunity that allows them to escape responsibility and punishment. "