English

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on the conclusion of the preliminary examination of the Situation in Palestine, and seeking a ruling on the scope of the Court’s territorial jurisdiction

December 21, 2019 English 0

Today on 20 December 2019, I announce that following a thorough, independent and objective assessment of all reliable information available to my Office, the preliminary examination into the Situation in Palestine has concluded with the determination that all the statutory criteria under the Rome Statute for the opening of an …

Report: Palestine Archbishop Atallah Hanna poisoned in Jerusalem

December 21, 2019 English 0

The Head of the Sebastia Diocese of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem Archbishop Atallah Hanna was reportedly hospitalised yesterday after being poisoned by chemical substances, according to Quds TV. Reports said the Archbishop was rushed to hospital after an Israeli gas canister was fired into his church in Jerusalem. …

After 90 days of hunger strike, Palestinian prisoner in serious condition at Israeli hospital

December 21, 2019 English 0

Palestinian administrative detainee in Israel, Ahmad Zahran, has been today on 90 days of hunger strike demanding an end to his incarceration without charge or trial and based on secret evidence, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Commission. Commission spokesman Hasan Abed Rabbo told WAFA that Zahran was transported to hospital …

Israeli army forces Palestinian farmers off their land in south of West Bank

December 21, 2019 English 0

Israeli soldiers today forced a number of farmers in the southern West Bank village of Kisan to leave their land and threatened to arrest them if they do not, according to Kisan deputy head of village council, Ahmad Ghazal. He told WAFA that soldiers raided the village and prevented the …

Prime Minister: The ICC decision stands for justice and truth

December 21, 2019 English 0

Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh said that the announcement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) constitutes a stand for justice and truth, adding that “we will make every possible legal effort to try Israel for the war crimes it committed against our people in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem …

Adalah rights group: ICC made the right decision given the facts

December 21, 2019 English 0

International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda made the right decision given the facts when she announced that Israel has been and is continuing to commit war crimes in the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – and in the Gaza Strip and that there is no reason that …

Reacting to the ICC announcement, President Abbas says it is a great day

December 21, 2019 English 0

President Mahmoud Abbas today described the announcement by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it is going to open an investigation into Israeli crimes as a great day. “This is a great day because we have achieved what we want, and from this day on, the ICC machine will start …

FM Malki to Netanyahu: Yes, it is a dark day for Israel

December 21, 2019 English 0

Reacting to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said the announcement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into Israeli crimes in the occupied territories is a dark day for Israel, Foreign Minister Riyad Malki today totally agreed with him. “Yes, this is …

Erekat: ICC decision is positive and encouraging step

December 21, 2019 English 0

Saeb Erekat, head of the National Committee responsible for following up on the International Criminal Court (ICC), confirmed today that “the decision announced by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to request an opinion by the Pre-Trial Chamber regarding the scope of the Court’s territorial …

FM welcomes ICC announcement on opening investigation into situation in Palestine

December 21, 2019 English 0

The Foreign Ministry welcomed today the announcement by the Prosecutor of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) on opening an investigation into the situation in Palestine and Israeli crimes against the Palestinians in the occupied territories. “The State of Palestine welcomes the announcement of the Office of the Prosecutor of …

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Appeal from Palestine to the Peoples and States of the World

For many years, Israel has remained an occupying power, occupying the territory of another state and controlling its people. It is a colonial state enforcing settler colonialism, including confiscating land, transferring its population to the territory it is occupying, and enacting a separate living system therein. It is a State that commits grave violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. It is a State that denies the Palestinian people their right to self-determination and national independence and denies the rights of Palestine refugees, including their right to return, ownership and compensation. It is a State that has ignored international will, rejected and violated all relevant United Nations resolutions and conventions.

Recently, the situation has worsened considerably. We have seen an increasing Israeli shift toward extremism, fundamentalism and even fascism. We have also seen a complete reversal of concluded agreements and attempts to take settler colonialism to another level. Israeli officials have publicly voiced positions that reject the Palestinian people’s existence and national rights and confirm the desire to seize all of the Palestinian territory.

As well, Trump’s recently issued so-called, “Vision for Peace, Prosperity and a Brighter Future for Israel and the Palestinian People” is in fact not a peace plan, but rather an adoption of the outrageous ideologies that advance greater Israel, deny Palestinian national existence, and
attempt to find possible solutions for the “Palestinian inhabitants” in a disconnected entity that they can call a state – if they meet many additional and impossible conditions. The plan paves the way for Israel to annex large swathes of the West Bank, including the areas of illegal settlements, the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea, and areas west of the Wall – which the International Court of Justice affirmed the illegality of and the need to dismantle and make reparations for the damage caused by its construction in 2004.

The Israeli Prime Minister has now and in many instances declared his intention to annex these areas, a position that was stated expressly in the partnership agreement of the current Israeli government – which makes it part of official government policy – along with the annexation of occupied East Jerusalem, which the international community has unanimously rejected and deemed to be null and void. Such Israeli policies and procedures constitute a grave violation of the principles and relevant provisions of international law – even annul international law and the conduct of States, upon which the international system as a whole is based – extinguish the possibility of a negotiated settlement between the two sides, and thus inevitably provoke a long confrontation with catastrophic results.

It is the duty of the international community, its States, people and civil society organizations to confront this, prevent it from happening and, if it does, to take punitive and deterrent measures. Reluctance to seriously confront all of this would be a shameful abrogation and would create repercussions in the region as well as the international system. Inaction would be a betrayal of values and principles, a retreat from a negotiated settlement and the establishment of peace in the region based on partition into two states.

As concerns the aforementioned, we, Palestinian leaders from all walks of life, including academics, former officials and civil society, appeal to the international community to take the necessary positions and measures to confront and stop this injustice, to preserve the goal of establishing peace and a secure and viable future for the people of the region, including the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, each in their independent state. We specifically ask that immediate action be taken to affirm:

1. By various means, the position against any annexation by Israel of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a grave violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, as well as in flagrant violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

2. The need for all States of the world to abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), specifically to not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders. Additionally, that all States with relations or cooperation agreements with Israel commit to the principle of distinction between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to reject any attempt by Israel to disparage this principle.

3. The need for all States to take specific measures against settlements, settlers and settlement products, including preventing such products from entering their markets, in implementation of the legal contractual obligations of States (third parties) in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention, 1949.

4. The need for political entities and civil society organizations to confront the attempt by a few governments to criminalize the above measures, as such criminalization would constitute a violation of international law, or to criminalize support for boycotting Israel on the basis of political and moral considerations, as such criminalization would constitute a violation of values of democracy and fundamental rights of citizens in the concerned States.

5. The need for all States that have relations or cooperation agreements with Israel to take punitive measures in regard to these agreements, in the event Israel takes any step to implement annexation.

6. The need for the States that have not yet recognized, to extend recognition to the State of Palestine, on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in compliance with the principle
of partition into two states, acknowledging the existence of two states, and upholding a politically negotiated two-state solution – a step that will guarantee the above.

7. Support the steps taken by the State of Palestine and other countries before the International Criminal Court, and national courts throughout the world that allow such legal challenges, against Israeli officials responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including annexation.

8. Support Palestinian, Arab and international efforts in the UN Security Council, General Assembly and other international institutions against any Israeli move toward annexation, in the event such step is taken. In addition, to condemn and declare this move illegal, null and void; to call on all States of the world to renounce and refuse recognition, and to deem Israel an outlaw state.

9. Reaffirm opposition to the so-called Trump Vision and reject all positions by right-wing extremists and settlers in Israel and extreme religious right in America – all of whom aim to achieve greater Israel, deny the national rights and even the national existence of the Palestinian people.

10. Support the Palestinian people, Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in their continuing struggle to confront annexation in the face of Trump’s Vision and achieve their national goals, freedom and independence.

We, the undersigned, well aware of the great responsibilities placed upon us and the Palestinian people to strengthen our capacities, first and foremost the unity of the Palestinian people and its institutions in confronting the aforementioned, hereby address this appeal to all components of the international community to uphold their responsibilities and take the necessary positions and measures at this historic juncture.

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English

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on the conclusion of the preliminary examination of the Situation in Palestine, and seeking a ruling on the scope of the Court’s territorial jurisdiction

Report: Palestine Archbishop Atallah Hanna poisoned in Jerusalem

After 90 days of hunger strike, Palestinian prisoner in serious condition at Israeli hospital

Israeli army forces Palestinian farmers off their land in south of West Bank

Prime Minister: The ICC decision stands for justice and truth

Adalah rights group: ICC made the right decision given the facts

Reacting to the ICC announcement, President Abbas says it is a great day

FM Malki to Netanyahu: Yes, it is a dark day for Israel

Erekat: ICC decision is positive and encouraging step

FM welcomes ICC announcement on opening investigation into situation in Palestine