Karim Khan emphasized that his visit was not investigative, but said he was able to speak to victims on both sides of the conflict.
According to authorities controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, more than 15,200 people have been killed in more than eight weeks of fighting and heavy bombardment in the besieged Gaza Strip. people.
“My office will continue to increase its efforts to expedite the investigation into this situation,” Khan said.
“Credible allegations of crimes in the current conflict should be investigated and investigated in a timely and independent manner,” he said.
Established in 2002, the ICC is the world’s only independent court established to investigate the most serious crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In 2021, he launched an investigation into Israel, as well as Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
Mr Khan has previously said the investigation now “covers the escalation of hostilities and violence following the October 7, 2023 attacks”.
However, ICC teams could not enter the Gaza Strip or conduct investigations in Israel, which is not a member of the ICC.
The war began when Hamas militants invaded Israel through the militarized border of the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing about 1,200 people. people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages.
Khan said he saw “premeditated brutality” in the areas Hamas attacked.
These attacks “are among the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes to be investigated and established by the ICC.”
He also emphasized that “Israel’s response to these attacks must comply with the clear legal parameters governing armed conflict.”
Acknowledging that conflict in densely populated areas like the Gaza Strip is “fundamentally complex”, Mr Khan said international humanitarian law must still apply.
Legal experts told AFP that both Hamas and Israel could be charged with war crimes over the conflict.
In mid-November, five countries called for an ICC investigation into the war between Israel and Hamas, and Khan said his team had gathered a lot of evidence about “relevant incidents”.
Khan also called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip that Hamas could not hijack.
“All actors must comply with international humanitarian law. If you don’t, don’t complain when my office is forced to take action,” he warned.
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2024-08-23 17:15:06
