The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has welcomed the position International Criminal Court chief prosecutor that the court has jurisdiction in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The PLO Executive Committee welcomed ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s position to probe possible war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, which fall within the court’s jurisdiction, as a positive development.
“The ICC Prosecutor’s response to Pre-Trial Chamber I concludes the deliberations over the issue of territorial jurisdiction of the Court in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The 60-page document responds to submissions of over fifty amici curiae, legal representatives of victims, and States regarding the Prosecutor’s request from the Pre-Trial Chamber I to rule on the territorial jurisdiction of the Court in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” said the PLO in the statement.
“The Prosecutor’s conclusion reaffirming her position that the Court has jurisdiction is a positive development. We trust that the facts of this issue will prevail and that the long-awaited investigation into war crimes committed in the territory of the State of Palestine will soon be launched,” it added.
