The International Criminal Court on Thursday granted the request of over 40 parties - countries, NGOs and experts, to weigh in on whether Palestine is a state and what ICC jurisdiction would look like in territorial terms.
Last week, the Czech Republic, Germany, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Hungary and Uganda as well as a large number of NGOs and experts filed arguments saying that Palestine is not a state and that the ICC must dismiss any war crimes charges against Israel.
Only states can refer a case to the ICC so the question of whether Palestine is a state is crucial.
Prior to Bensouda’s December 20 decision, her office had said it was also considering whether the PA might be guilty of war crimes for torture of its own people or for its so-called “pay for slay” policy.