Newspapers Hail International Criminal Court's Jurisdiction Decision Over Palestinian Territories

Doha, February 07 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers highlighted in their editorials Sunday the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, indicating that this decision paves the way for the Court to impose accountability measures on Israel and its leaders. The newspapers affirmed the importance of this decision, as it represents an important step towards achieving justice for the Palestinian people and the victims of the Israeli occupation, calling on the international community to complete the necessary steps to hold Israeli war criminals accountable in international courts. Al-Sharq said that the widespread welcome of the ICC's decision reflected the importance of applying international law, prosecuting war criminals, and stopping impunity. The paper pointed out that the Israeli occupation has committed war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement through wars, annexation and settlement, adding that this violates Palestinian people's rights in their land and threats to Judaize holy sites. The newspaper underlined that the decision paves the way for the International Criminal Court to impose accountability measures on Israel and its leaders, and represents a victory for justice and Palestine which is a state party to the Rome Statute. The paper said that it is time to accelerate the judicial procedures against the crimes committed by the occupation which launch three wars on the Gaza Strip and imposed an unjust siege on it, in addition to the issues of prisoners and settlements. In conclusion, Al-Sharq said that the ICC's decision will contribute to supporting the United Nations resolution to protect the Palestinian people and deter violence practiced by Israel against the defenseless Palestinian people. Al-Raya newspaper affirmed in its editorial the importance of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, as it represents an important step towards achieving justice for the Palestinian people and for the victims of the Israeli occupation. This decision paves the way for the court to investigate war crimes resulting from the Israeli military actions and their leaders responsible for committing crimes against the Palestinian people and their land, therefore it should be implemented by the Member States that are parties to the Rome Statute that established the Criminal Court, the newspaper said. The Court's decision enables it to initiate investigations into the case filed by the State of Palestine against Israel and its crimes, especially the issue of prisoners and the ongoing crimes of settlement, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement as well as the crime of aggression against the Gaza Strip, which is subjected to an unjust siege, Al-Raya said. The decision's affirmation that Palestine is a state party to the Rome Statute and that the ICC's jurisdiction extends to the lands occupied by Israel since 1967, including Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem, would deter the leaders of the Israeli occupation from continuing their crimes against the defenseless Palestinian people, the newspaper added. Al-Raya concluded its editorial by saying that this decision will contribute to protect the Palestinian people from the ongoing aggression and violations of the occupation till the restoration of all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, freedom and independence on their national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital. \For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said that the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court decided that its jurisdiction extends to all the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, in an important historical and meaningful step, in terms of its ability to ensure that Israel is held accountable for crimes committed in the Palestinian territories, and to identify those responsible. The paper clarified that the decision would require the Court to immediately initiate an investigation into the grave violations committed against the civilian population and civilian objects in the occupied Palestinian territory, adding that it is also a very strong legal message addressed to all countries of the world and responsible leaders that those who commit crimes should not go unpunished. Al-Watan indicated that there are three priority files that are listed in the Court, which are the Israeli war on Gaza in 2014, as well as the settlement and the prisoners files and the resulting grave violations against the Palestinians. The decision is a message of reassurance to the Palestinian people, namely that those who violated their rights will appear before the International Criminal Court, and that the era of impunity has ended after decades of occupation during which the most heinous crimes against the Palestinian people have been committed, the paper continued. In conclusion, the newspaper noted the decision of the International Criminal Court, whereby hope returns to international organizations and their ability to intervene, after attempts to empty their previous decisions of any content. (QNA)