Palestine Insists on Prosecuting Israel Before ICC

Red Crescent evacuating citizens from Jenin camp during an Israeli operation on July 4 (EPA)
Red Crescent evacuating citizens from Jenin camp during an Israeli operation on July 4 (EPA)
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Palestine Insists on Prosecuting Israel Before ICC

Red Crescent evacuating citizens from Jenin camp during an Israeli operation on July 4 (EPA)
Red Crescent evacuating citizens from Jenin camp during an Israeli operation on July 4 (EPA)

Palestine insists on resorting to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to pressure Israel, despite its dissatisfaction with the court's performance.

Palestinians accuse the ICC of bias and turning not humanitarian issues into political ones.

They are awaiting an advisory opinion from the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, whom they accuse of procrastinating the discussion of the Palestinian file.

Earlier, the Israeli security cabinet approved a series of measures to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) while advancing its demand to cease its activities against Israel in the international legal-diplomatic arena.

However, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry confirmed it would proceed with the case.

The political advisor to the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ahmed al-Deek, said the Palestinians reject the politicization of the international court, which is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.

He added that the Authority wants to ensure the court's commitment to the Rome Statute and the regulations governing its work.

Signed in 1998, The Rome Statute affirms "that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and that their effective prosecution must be ensured by taking measures at the national level and by enhancing international cooperation."

It is determined to end impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus contribute to preventing such crimes.

Deek told the Arab News Agency (ANA) that the court must step up and speed up its investigations regarding the crimes of the occupation and the files that were referred to the court.

He asserted that it remains unclear why the Court is investigating and issuing memorandums concerning the situation in Ukraine but remains silent regarding the violations and crimes in Palestine.

The Palestinians referred three files to the ICC concerning the attacks, killings, and assassinations in the Gaza Strip, the settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the Palestinian detainees.

The official asserted that all these issues include grave Israeli violations and crimes against international laws and the Rome Statute, noting that Palestine is a member of the Court's General Assembly, which consists of the group of signatories to the Rome Statute.

He added that the Palestinians may request at any moment, in cooperation with friendly Arab and Islamic countries, to hold a meeting of the General Assembly so that the court assumes its responsibilities towards crimes committed against the Palestinian people.

Head of the Gaza-based International Commission to Support Palestinians' Rights Salah Abdalati believes Palestinians should have resorted to the international court sooner.

He accused the new public prosecutor of seeking to please the West, led by the US and Israel.

The expert recalled that within a week, the Prosecutor went to Ukraine to investigate the war and issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in less than a year, although Russia and Ukraine are not party to the Rome Accord.

The legal advisor, Nafez al-Madhoun, believes that Israel and some major countries influence the ICC judges.

He told the Arab News Agency that the Palestinian Authority must, without hesitation or fear, resort to the international court for justice for Palestinian victims who have suffered over the past years from repression and occupation measures that amount to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Madhoun noted that Israel fears the International Criminal Court, even if its leaders' statements show otherwise.



Grundberg Concludes Visit to Sanaa, Urges Houthis to Deescalate Tensions, Release Detainees

Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
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Grundberg Concludes Visit to Sanaa, Urges Houthis to Deescalate Tensions, Release Detainees

Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)

The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, urged on Thursday Houthi leaders to reduce national and regional escalation and release the detained UN staff and other humanitarian personnel.
The envoy stressed his determination to safeguard the progress made to date on the peace roadmap, which has been frozen since Houthis have stepped up their attacks against shipping routes in the Red Sea corridor.
Grundberg’s comments came on Thursday as he concluded a visit to Sanaa, his first to the Yemeni capital since May 2023.
The visit comes amid hopes that his efforts would prepare the ground for concrete actions for advancing the peace process in the country.
In a statement, Grundberg said he held discussions with senior political and military officials to renew engagement on the political process, focusing on addressing challenges and exploring possibilities for advancing peace within the region’s complex context.
During his meetings with Houthi leaders, the special envoy stressed the importance of national and regional de-escalation to foster an environment conducive to dialogue.
He urged the need for concrete actions to pave the way forward for a political process to achieve sustainable peace and stability across Yemen.
Grundberg’s discussions also highlighted the importance of taking steps to address economic challenges and improve living conditions, while simultaneously advancing preparations for a ceasefire – critical components of the road map and reaching a political resolution that meets the aspirations of Yemenis.
“I am determined to safeguard the progress made to date on the roadmap and keep focus on the prospects for peace in Yemen,” Grundberg noted.
Discussions on the conflict-related detainees file built on the progress made during negotiations held in Oman in July 2024.
The envoy emphasized that the file is vital for confidence building between the parties and advancing previous commitments.
He then underscored the importance of prioritizing this humanitarian issue as a step toward fostering trust that can help enable broader agreements and signal commitment to the peace process.
Protection of Civil Society
The Special Envoy started his visit to Sanaa at the home of the family of his colleague who has been arbitrarily detained by Houthis since June 2024.
He expressed his deepest compassion for what they have been enduring during this difficult period and offered his support, a statement by his office said.
Grundberg then updated the family on the UN efforts to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained personnel.
He also expressed solidarity with the families of the other detainees, acknowledging their shared anguish and the urgent need for their loved ones' release.
In all his discussions, the envoy strongly urged Houthis to release immediately and unconditionally the detained personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions.
Grundberg then echoed the Secretary General’s message that the arbitrary detentions are unacceptable and constitute a violation of international law.
“We must protect the role of civil society and humanitarian personnel. They make vital contributions to peace and rebuilding Yemen,” stated the Special Envoy.
Grundberg arrived in Yemen after holding talks with Omani officials in Muscat. Present at the talks was Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam.
The envoy is hoping to make a breakthrough in the Yemeni crisis after his efforts stalled with the Houthis launching their attacks on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes.
The Visit’s Agenda
Grundberg, a Swedish diplomat, is in Sanaa as part of his efforts to push the Houthis to take concrete actions for advancing the peace process.
He will also be pushing for the release of the arbitrarily detained UN personnel and also from other NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions.
The envoy said he plans to conduct a series of national and regional meetings in the coming days under his mediation efforts.