ICC receives Palestinian document

Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Herman von Hebel, received on January 1 a document lodged, under article 12 (3) of the ICC Rome Statute, by Palestinian government declaring acceptance of jurisdiction of ICC since 13 June 2014.
An ICC press statement released at the Hague on Monday noted that acceptance of the ICC's jurisdiction differs from an act of accession to the Rome Statute, the Courtآ’s founding treaty.
The UN Secretary General acts as the depositary of the Rome Statute. On 2 January 2015, Palestine transmitted to the UN documents relating to its accession to the Rome Statute as well as other treaties. The UN is reviewing these documents.
The press release said that the ICC is an independent, permanent court that tries individuals accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
"Acceptance of the ICC's jurisdiction does not automatically trigger an investigation. It is for the ICC Prosecutor to establish whether the Rome Statute criteria for opening an investigation are met and, where required, to request authorisation from ICC Judges," it added.
The Palestinians have decided to join the ICC after the UN Security Council (UNSC) failed, late last month, to adopt a draft resolution that would put a timetable for the withdrawal of Israel from occupied Palestinian territories, and establish the State of Palestine on the June 4 1967 borders.
Source: KUNA