Palestinians submit ICC membership request to UN

UN envoy Riyad Mansour says Palestinians will seek retroactive action to pursue cases linked to latest Gaza war and settlements.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, speaks to reporters at the UN after submitting requests for accession to the body’s international conventions on January 2, 2015.  Evan Schneider / United Nations / EPA
Powered by automated translation

UNITED NATIONS // The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations on Friday formally requested membership of the International Criminal Court, which would allow war crimes complaints to be filed against Israel.

Membership of the Rome Statute, which governs the ICC, would open the way for Palestinians to pursue criminal complaints in The Hague, but is firmly opposed by both Israel and the United States.

“This is a very significant step,” Riyad Mansour said. “We are seeking justice for all the victims that have been killed by Israel, the occupying power.”

The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon is to review the so-called instruments of accession and notify state members on the request within 60 days.

“We are honored that we are the 123rd state-party of the ICC, which will be effective in about 60 days from now in accordance with the rules and procedures of the ICC,” Mr Mansour said.

He said the Palestinians had also filed a request with the ICC in The Hague to grant retroactive jurisdiction to the court to cover alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s war on Gaza last year.

Almost 2,200 Palestinians were killed in July and August during the 50-day war, including more than 400 children, according to UN estimates.

Mr Mansour said the Palestinians will also be seeking to launch legal action over Jewish settlement construction in occupied territory, which he said was a war crime under the Rome Statute.

“This is a peaceful option, a civilised option and an option that anyone who upholds the law should not be afraid of,” he said.

* Agence France-Presse