International Criminal Court to Investigate Israel

Prosecutor Karim Khan Announces Joint Request from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti

Allegations of Israeli War Crimes to be Examined

In a groundbreaking development, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that it will investigate allegations of war crimes committed by Israel. The decision follows a joint request from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who was elected to the position in 2021, stated that the Court had received "a joint request by South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti under Article 14 of the Rome Statute to investigate alleged crimes committed by Israel within the occupied Palestinian territory since 13 June 2014."

The Rome Statute is the founding treaty of the ICC, which defines the Court's jurisdiction and procedures. Under Article 14, states that are not party to the Rome Statute can request the Court to investigate alleged crimes that come within its jurisdiction.

The ICC's decision to investigate Israel is a significant step in the Court's history. It marks the first time that the ICC will investigate alleged crimes committed by a non-state party to the Rome Statute.