A French lawyer filed a complaint Friday against Israel for what the lawyer said were “war crimes committed by the Israeli army in June and July 2014 in Palestine,” referring primarily to Israel’s Protective Edge military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which began July 8.
Over 1000 people have already been killed and over 6,000 injured in the most recent stage of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, according to emergency services in Gaza.
The French lawyer, Gille Devers, told reporters Friday that “Israel, the occupying power, is carrying out a military operation which in principle and form violates the basis of international law.
“Every day new crimes are committed and over 80 percent of the victims are civilians. Children, women, hospitals, UN schools… the Israeli soldiers respect nothing. This is a military attack against the Palestinian population.”
Palestine itself has not filed a complaint at the ICC. Devers said this was due to “political” quarrels over Palestinians’ status, and that his complaint was nonetheless valid.
The UN is currently investigating Protective Edge. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has said that Israel could be guilty of war crimes for their military actions.
By Day Blakely Donaldson