International Criminal Court: Crimes of Hamas and Israeli Forces a Priority

(Patria) - The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has concluded his historic first visit to Israel and Ramallah, stating that the court's investigation into possible crimes by Hamas and Israeli forces is a "priority for my office," AP reported.

In a video message from Ramallah, where he met with top Palestinian officials, prosecutor Karim Khan said the investigation launched in 2021 is "moving forward at a rapid pace, with rigor, determination, and with an insistence that we act not according to emotions, but according to solid evidence."

There have been widespread allegations of violations of international law by Hamas and Israel since the war broke out following the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in southern Israel. About 240 people were taken hostage.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said the total death toll in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war has exceeded 15,000, adding that 70% of the dead are women and children. It said more than 40,000 people have been wounded since the war began.

In a written statement issued after his visit, Khan said he witnessed "scenes of calculated cruelty" at the sites of the October 7 attacks. During the visit, he spoke with family members of Israeli victims and called for the urgent and unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas and other militants.

"The attacks on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7 represent some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes for which the ICC was established," Khan said in his written statement, adding that he and his prosecutors are working "to hold those responsible accountable."

In a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, families thanked Khan "for the extraordinary decision to come and stand with the families after the horrors Hamas committed in Israel on October 7 and the continued detention of hostages. We expect him to work to bring Hamas terrorists to justice for crimes against humanity and genocide."

Khan said he is ready to engage with local prosecutors in line with the principle of complementarity, as the ICC is a court of last resort established to prosecute war crimes when local courts cannot or will not act. Israel is not a state party to the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

Khan also visited Palestinian officials in Ramallah, including President Mahmoud Abbas, and spoke with Palestinian victims. On the war in Gaza, he said the fighting in "densely populated areas where fighters are allegedly unlawfully embedded within the civilian population is inherently complex, but international humanitarian law must still apply and the Israeli military knows the law that must be applied."

He said Israel "has trained lawyers advising commanders and a robust system aimed at ensuring respect for international humanitarian law. Credible allegations of crimes during the current conflict should be subject to timely, independent examination and investigation."

Khan said humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza.

"In Gaza, it is not acceptable, there is no justification, for doctors to perform operations without light, for children to be operated on without anesthetics," he said.

"Imagine the pain of operations on children, anyone, any of us, without anesthetics. I also emphasized that Hamas must not divert any aid that is provided."

Khan also expressed "deep concern" over what he called "a significant increase in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank."

"I emphasize, settler violence is unacceptable," he said in his video. "It is something we are investigating. We have been investigating and we are accelerating investigations. No Israeli settler armed with ideology and weapons can think that it is open season on Palestinians."

Khan said he will seek to work with "all actors" in the conflict to "ensure that the action taken by my office is done on the basis of objective, verifiable evidence that can withstand scrutiny in the courtroom and ensure that when we do proceed, we have a realistic prospect of conviction."