International Criminal Court Prosecutor to Israel, Palestinians: “I’m Watching You”

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hague has warned Israel and the Palestinians controlling the Gaza Strip that “she’s watching.” In a statement issued in The Hague on Sunday, Fatou Bensouda warned that “any new alleged crime committed in the context of the situation in Palestine may be subjected to my Office’s scrutiny.” Bensouda was more specific in her warning to both sides, admonishing that, “Violence against civilians – in a situation such as the one prevailing in Gaza – could constitute crimes … as could the use of civilian presence for the purpose of shielding military activities.” The prosecutor is already conducting a preliminary investigation into Palestinian charges made against Israel despite Israel’s contention that the court lacks jurisdiction since there is no Palestinian state and Israeli is not a member of the court.