The Hamas Movement on Wednesday welcomed the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s decision to start a formal investigation into war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“This courageous decision is an important step to achieve justice for our people and punish the occupation leaders for their crimes” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in press remarks on Wednesday.
Spokesman Qasem urged ICC to resist any potential pressure that could prevent it from completing its mission.
In a statement on Wednesday ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced the launch of this inquiry and said it would be conducted “independently impartially and objectively without fear or favor.”
“Today I confirm the initiation by the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of an investigation respecting the situation in Palestine” Bensouda said adding that the ICC will specifically probe allegations since June 13 2014.
In this regard the US administration renewed its unwavering bias in favor of Israel and announced its opposition of the intended ICC investigation.
“The United States firmly opposes and is deeply disappointed by this decision. The ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter” US secretary of state Antony Blinken said. “We will continue to uphold our strong commitment to Israel and its security.”
He claimed that “the Palestinians do not qualify as a sovereign state and therefore are not qualified to obtain membership as a state in participate as a state in or delegate jurisdiction to the ICC.”
