Palestine to join ICC on April 1

The International Criminal Court announced yesterday that Palestinians will formally become members of the organisation on 1 April, and its jurisdiction will date back to June 13, 2014.

ICC said in a statement: “The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (“the Assembly”), Minister Sidiki Kaba welcomed the deposit by the State of Palestine of the instruments of accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court (APIC), which were notified on 6 January 2015 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations acting in his capacity as depositary.”

According to the statement, Kaba said “Each ratification of the Rome Statute constitutes welcome progress towards its universality.”

The Court pointed out that “UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has recognised the State of Palestine application.

ICC noted that “the Government of Palestine accepted, by means of a declaration under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, the ICC jurisdiction since 13 June 2014.”

The move will allow Palestine to prosecute Israeli officials for war crimes.