ICC Concerned over Violence in West Bank

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court voiced concern Wednesday at the escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians and said "crimes" may have been committed.
"I note
with great concern the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, as well as in and around Gaza, and the possible commission of crimes
under the Rome Statute," which founded the ICC, Fatou Bensouda said on
Twitter.
Palestinian militants and the Israeli army
exchanged a barrage of deadly fire early Wednesday, after days of clashes that
have left at least 40 dead and hundreds injured.
Bensouda announced on March 3 that she had
opened a full investigation into the situation in the Israeli-occupied
territories, infuriating Israel, which is not a member of The Hague-based
court, unlike the Palestinian Authority.
That probe will mainly focus on the 2014 Gaza
War but also look at the deaths of Palestinian demonstrators from 2018 onwards.
After a five-year preliminary probe, she had
said there was "reasonable basis" to believe crimes were committed by
both sides -- by the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli authorities, and by
Hamas and Palestinian armed groups.
Bensouda said Wednesday that the ICC
investigations "will cover all sides and all the facts and evidence
relevant to an assessment of whether there is individual criminal
responsibility under the Statute."
"My Office
will continue to monitor developments on the ground and will factor any matter
that falls within its jurisdiction."
The world's only permanent war crimes tribunal,
the ICC was set up in 2002 to try humanity's worst crimes where local courts
are unwilling or unable to step in.