AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Mexico and Chile have asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, citing the “escalation of violence against civilian targets”.
Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the ICC was the proper forum to establish potential criminal responsibility, "whether committed by agents of the occupying power or the occupied power."
The statement said Mexico and Chile referred the war to the ICC “due to growing worry over the latest escalation of violence, particularly against civilian targets."
Mexico cited "numerous reports from the United Nations that detail many incidents that could constitute crimes under the ICC's jurisdiction."
Speaking to reporters, Chile's Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren said his nation was "interested in supporting the investigation into any possible war crime" wherever they might occur.
The Hague-based court opened an investigation into Israel for possible war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories in 2021.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in November that the investigation now "extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence” since October 7, 2023.
Israel is not a member of the ICC, but Palestine was allowed to join in 2015 and has since called for an investigation into Israeli crimes.
Mexico said it was also closely following the genocide case filed by South Africa against the occupying regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its ongoing war in the besieged strip. Hearings in the case began last week.
According to South Africa’s application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."
......................
End/ 257