The International Criminal Court on Monday rejected a challenge by Israel, which argued that the investigation into crimes committed in the Gaza Strip was invalid.
In its decision, the tribunal also confirmed in November 2024 ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC opened its investigation into the Palestinian territory in 2021, and with the decision against Israel’s challenge, it will now be able to resume it.
Israel argued that a separate investigation would have to be launched following the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel, which it said changed the situation and required the ICC to provide a second formal notice of investigation.
Monday’s 44-page ruling confirms the decision to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli foreign affairs spokesman Oren Marmorstein said in X’s post that Israel “rejects” the decision and accused the ICC of “politicization”.
The court is currently reviewing another Israeli challenge to its jurisdiction, as well as a request to disqualify prosecutor Karim Khan over allegations of sexual abuse, which he vehemently denies.
In July, it rejected an Israeli request to withdraw the arrest warrants, as well as an appeal against that decision in October.
Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the worst atrocities, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the court, but that does not prevent the country from bringing legal challenges to it.
In 2021, the court ruled that its jurisdiction extended to the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place since October 10, but since then Palestinians have continued to die in Israeli attacks in Gaza.
This article was generated from an automated news agency source without text modification.
