Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemns German president’s claims that ICC has no jurisdiction over Israel

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made controversial statements on Wednesday ahead of his visit to “Israel”, claiming that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had no jurisdiction over Israel.

Interviewed by the Israeli daily Haaretz ahead of his visit, Steinmeier said that the position of the German government was that the ICC – which notably investigates Israeli war crimes – had no jurisdiction over Palestinian complaints against Israel “due to the absence of Palestinian statehood”.

On Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned Steinmeier’s remarks, stressing that they violate the rules of the international law and constitute a blatant interference in the work of the ICC, its decisions, and the decision of the Prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into crimes committed within its jurisdiction.”

The Ministry called on the German president and Germany “to stop their biased stand which grants Israel immunity from accountability and punishment, and considers it a state above the law.”

It said that these biased positions encourage Israel to commit more crimes and continue with its colonial project, consolidate its apartheid entity, while depriving the Palestinian people of their basic rights.

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said that Steinmeier’s statements were “shameful and arrogant, and he has to apologize”.

 “His statements represent an invitation for Israel to perpetrate more crimes against our people,” the spokesperson added.

In March, then-ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that she would formally investigate war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel from 13 June 2014 onwards.

Hamda Mustafa

Agencies