The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court stated that five countries, including South Africa and Bangladesh, have called for an investigation into the Israel-Hamas war, which has resulted in thousands of deaths.
Five countries, including South Africa and Bangladesh, on Friday called for an International Criminal Court investigation into the Israel-Hamas war which has left thousands of dead, its chief prosecutor said.
Amid international concern over the growing toll, the demand was made as families of some of the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in their October 7 attacks that unleashed the war also sought ICC action.
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan stated that South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros and Djibouti — all ICC members — had sought an investigation of “the situation in the state of Palestine.”
Khan said in a statement that an investigation into events in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank which began in March 2021 now “extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on October 7, 2023.”
Khan, who recently went to the main crossing point between Gaza and Egypt, said his team had collected a “significant volume” of evidence on “relevant incidents” in the war.
He appealed for more evidence to be submitted and added, “I will also continue my efforts to visit the state of Palestine and Israel in order to meet with survivors, hear from civil society organizations and engage with relevant national counterparts.”
Israel is not an ICC member and Khan said, “I call upon all relevant actors to provide full cooperation with my office.”
Just as lawyers for the families of some of the Gazan casualties have sought ICC action, families of the hostages demanded that Khan issue warrants for Hamas leaders.
“The inquiry is advancing,” Francois Zimeray, a lawyer for nine of the families, told the media after the meeting.
He said he submitted a dossier on behalf of some of the families who want warrants issued for war crimes and genocide.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
