ICC prosecutor: Palestinian Authority has no standing in the International Criminal Court and cannot file complaints against Israel because it is not a state

(INN) The Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced Tuesday that he rejected a complaint filed by the PA against Israel for alleged war crimes during "Operation Cast Lead" in Gaza in 2009.

The prosecutor explained that only states can file a complaint with the International Criminal Court. "The Palestinian Authority is only an observer at the United Nations and not a member state.

The prosecutor's office noted that, for its purposes, the recognition of "Palestine" by 130 countries and several international organizations, including UN organizations, was immaterial.

The decision brings an end to a PA bid launched on 22 January 2009 to gain defacto recognition by the ICC by granting the Hague jurisdiction over “the territory of Palestine.”

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