ABBAS SIGNS DOCUMENTS TO JOIN ICC

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) delivers a speech during a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Fatah movement, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on December 31, 2014.(Photo: Press TV)

Ramallah, 10 Rabiul Awwal 1436/1 January 2015 (MINA) – The president of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has made the long-expected move to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday signed the documents necessary for Palestine to join 20 international organizations, including the ICC, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Thursday.

The move would enable PA to take action against Israel for committing war crimes against the Palestinian people. The United State and Israel swiftly reacted to the move with the US State Department spokesman, Edgar Vasquez, calling it “counter-productive.”

Abbas’ decision is believed to be closely related to the outcome of the UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday in which the body failed to pass a resolution requiring Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian lands captured in 1967.

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The ICC has the legal authority to prosecute individuals for war crimes, something that Israelis have been repeatedly accused of over the massacre of Palestinians.

Israel waged a massive war on the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip in July 2014, killing thousands of civilians including women and children for almost 51 consecutive days in what was described by international observers as a blatant crime against humanity.

On October 8, Palestine secured an observer status at the ICC. The position was granted to Palestine at the summit meeting of the 122 ICC member states in New York. (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)