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We are seeking ICC probe into Israeli war crimes: Palestinian PM | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah speaks during a press conference following the first cabinet meeting of the new Palestinian unity government in the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 3, 2014. (AFP/Abbas Momani)


Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah speaks during a press conference following the first cabinet meeting of the new Palestinian unity government in the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 3, 2014. (AFP/Abbas Momani)

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah speaks during a press conference following the first cabinet meeting of the new Palestinian unity government in the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 3, 2014. (AFP/Abbas Momani

Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Palestinian government has begun the process of documenting the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in a bid to push for an International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into potential war crimes committed by the Israeli government, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamadallah told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday.

“We have formed legal teams to document and seek legal opinion . . . In the current war on Gaza we have been documenting all attacks and crimes taking place in order to go [to the ICC] armed with all the evidence,” the head of the Palestinian national unity government said in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

The prime minister said the Palestinian government is set “to sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which is a prelude to joining the Hague Convention and the ICC.”

Hamadallah urged the international community to take action in response to Israeli “massacres” in the Gaza Strip.

He said: “After all the massacres and attacks, there must be international action in order to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. I think this is a suitable opportunity for the entire world to call for the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions.”

When asked about the progress of the Cairo-brokered talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Hamadallah accused the Israeli delegation of “procrastination” in terms of responding to Palestinian demands.

“We demand the lifting of the unjust blockade [of Gaza] and the opening of crossings,” he added.

The full text of the interview with Rami Hamadallah will be published tomorrow.