The Chief IC prosecutor said in a statement that investigation into possible war crimes against Palestine will be carried out by the court. Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor, said the investigation will not be biased, skewed, or bent to favor a particular side in the conflict.
Israel objected while Palestine rejoiced about the decision. Her statement added that the investigation will "cover crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court that are alleged to have been committed in the Situation since 13 June 2014."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) praised the court for its decision
The Palestinian authority reacted well to the statement released by the ICC. Its foreign ministry said in a briefing that the investigation will validate Palestine's struggle to bring justice to its citizens that have been harmed in the conflict.
A Hamas spokesperson said in an interview that the ICC should investigate the war crimes carried out by Israel against Palestine. He added that it would be a step in the right direction and would help Palestinians move on from the crimes committed against them.
He added that Palestine was not guilty of any crime, as most of its activities were carried out to protect its citizens from Israeli attacks.
The ICC said it had jurisdiction over the Palestine-Israeli conflict
According to a February ruling, the ICC has jurisdiction over Israeli and Palestine-related cases. The ruling was made on a set of rules covered in the court's manifesto. The court will not try to lay boundaries between the two countries.
Israel has spoken against the court's decision, saying that their ruling was politically motivated and lacked any moral grounds. The country added that it would defend its citizens and army from unfounded lies.
Bensouda said the investigation will begin after the pandemic has cleared. She also added that the court's prosecutors are currently involved in other cases, which may delay the start of the investigation.