IN what could be called a landmark decision, International Court of Justice (ICC) has announced to launch a full investigation into war crimes in Palestinian territories. Chief Prosecutor of the ICC Fatou Bensouda said Saturday there is reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine.
Given the atrocities and persecution faced by innocent Palestinian people at the hands of cruel Jewish state, it was a long overdue step that has also been hailed by Palestinians to put an end to impunity of the perpetrators of violence. A full ICC investigation could possibly lead to charges against individuals. We expect that the investigations will also be started without any delay and that individuals involved in war crimes, well documented by the UN also, will be accordingly charged and punished. Accountability is the only way to prevent further war crimes in Palestinian areas. The US condemnation of the ICC decision is unjust and uncalled for. It is really disturbing that the US never gets tired of raising fingers on human rights situation in other countries but when it comes to Israel, it takes a totally different and biased approach. In this case, we see Washington standing with the oppressor rather than the oppressed. It accepts the right of existence of the Jewish state but not that of Palestinians whose land have been occupied and encroached by the Jews.
The ICC decision has given a hope to the Palestinians that this will bring an end to the oppression and tyranny. They seek redress in this court and expect actions congruent with the urgency and gravity of situation in Palestine but how much the ICC succeeds in it is yet to be seen as the road to justice is quite long and full of obstacles. We will also suggest the US to stop taking side in the Middle East conflict and play the role of an honest facilitator and mediator to find honourable solution of this old conflict.
