Euro-Med Monitor Calls on Palestinian Victims to Prepare to Assist ICC Prosecutor in Criminal Investigation
GENEVA - The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor welcomed today's announcement by the International Criminal Court's
Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, which concluded the preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine and stated that
all requirements for opening a formal investigation have been satisfied. Bensouda's requested from the ICC's Pre-Trial
Chamber to decide on the regional jurisdiction of the court in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Geneva-based Euro-Med Monitor said that the decision of the ICC Prosecutor is a positive step in the right
direction, while emphasizing that an official investigation into Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians should
follow as soon as possible.
Drawing on the legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied, Ramy Abdu, Chairman of Euro-Med Monitor, stated that
"We urge the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to expedite the process of consulting on this request so that the Prosecutor can open
an investigation into the crimes stipulated in the Rome Statute without any further delay."
Dr. Abdu stressed that the ICC Prosecutor should not be subjected to any political pressure or attempts to intimidate
her or her team to deflect the investigation. He emphasized the importance of moving forward with the next legal
proceedings without any obstructions.
To reinforce the progress of opening the investigation and ensuring its success, Dr. Abdu called on all relevant
parties, victims and their families to prepare to present their testimonies, statements and evidence available to them
to assist the Prosecutor's Office in the expected investigations.
He stressed that the jurisdiction of the Legal Criminal Court over the occupied Palestinian territories is evident in
the fact that the State of Palestine has joined the Rome Statute and accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem nearly five years ago.
The Euro-Med Monitor added that Israel has committed violations that could amount to war crimes and crimes against
humanity against the Palestinians. Asserting that at a time where Israeli authorities continue to go unpunished, the ICC
has the mandate to put an end to such injustice and provide a minimum of justice to the victims.
The Euro-Med Monitor added that serving justice to Palestinian victims of long decades of Israel's occupation, war
crimes and grave violations of human rights, falls primarily on the criminal court under international laws and
covenants.
The Euro-Med Monitor concluded that all measures must be taken to refer those involved in committing violations against
Palestinian civilians – including Israeli leaders and soldiers – to the relevant courts and due processes; including the
ICC and the courts of the states that are parties to the Geneva Conventions, according to the principle of universal
jurisdiction, to ensure that war crimes against Palestinians do not go unpunished.