Mexico and Chile submitted a case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) asking it to investigate the Israeli crimes committed against Palestinians.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry upheld the ICC as the ideal forum to investigate the ongoing conflict in Palestine, citing the Court as the most suitable body to potentially establish criminal responsibility for any offender.
“Mexico and Chile’s action follows growing concern over the latest escalation of violence, particularly against civilian targets, and the alleged continued commission of crimes under the Court’s jurisdiction,” it said in a statement.
It cited “numerous United Nations reports” that have documented different instances of violence that may constitute crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC under the Rome Statute.
On December 29, South Africa filed a lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, accusing the Israeli occupation of committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This month, the court is expected to rule on a potential urgent ceasefire resolution; however, it will not rule on genocide charges right away, as the case may take years to resolve.
Since Oct. 7, the Israeli occupation forces launched a bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip, causing a severe humanitarian and health catastrophe.
The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law as it exposes civilians’ lives to extreme danger, which requires an immediate international intervention.
The international community must force the Israeli occupation forces to abide by international human rights and humanitarian laws, mainly protecting the rights and lives of civilians, prohibiting their targeting and preserving their safety, and holding the Israeli leaders accountable for committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.