US Condemns Start of ICC Probe Into Possible War Crimes in Palestine

© East News / Adel HanaA Palestinian militant of Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of Hamas
A Palestinian militant of Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of Hamas - Sputnik International
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State Department spokesperson stated that the United States opposes the launch of a preliminary inquiry by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes committed in Palestinian territories.

WASHINGTON, January 17 (Sputnik) – The United States opposes the launch of a preliminary inquiry by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged war crimes committed in Palestinian territories, State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke has stressed in a statement.

Palestinian inspect the home of Palestinian Ziad Awad in the town of Idna,13 kilometers (8 miles) west of the West Bank city of Hebron, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 - Sputnik International
Ambassador Says Palestinians Prepare War Crimes Lawsuit Against Israel
"We strongly disagree with the ICC Prosecutor's action today. As we have said repeatedly, we do not believe that Palestine is a state and therefore we do not believe that it is eligible to join the ICC," the statement, released Friday, said.

All issues pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through "direct negotiations" and the United States "will continue to oppose actions against Israel at the ICC", the statement stressed.

The ICC announced its decision to open a preliminary examination into alleged atrocities in Palestinian territories on Friday. ICC prosecutors stressed in a statement that the probe is not an investigation and is meant to determine whether there is any reasonable basis to initiate one.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had previously indicated that he sees the ICC as means to prosecute Israel for constant attacks against Palestinians, who are striving to create an independent state on the West Bank territories, including East Jerusalem, partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon - Sputnik International
UN Chief Says Palestinians to Join ICC in April
The Palestinian president signed a request to join the ICC as well as a number of other international treaties on December 31, 2014, after the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Earlier this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that Palestine would join the ICC on April 1.

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