THE HAGUE: The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has vowed to speed up efforts to probe alleged war crimes in the Palestinian Territories, Western media reported on Sunday.
Karim Khan said his visit to the conflict zone was not investigative in nature but during the tour he was able to speak to victims on both sides of the conflict.
According to the health ministry in Gaza more than 15,523 innocent Palestinians have been brutally killed in the ongoing relentless Israeli military bombardments in the Gaza Strip since the commencement of violence on October 7.
Karim Khan told media that his office will further enhance its efforts to advance its probe in relation to this situation.
He said authentic allegations of crimes during the ongoing conflict should be the subject of timely, independent investigation.
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The ICC, which opened in 2002, is the world’s only independent court to probe the gravest offenses, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
In 2021 it launched an investigation into Israel as well other armed Palestinian groups for war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
According to legal experts Israel could face war crimes charges over the conflict.
Karim Khan has also called for humanitarian aid to be allowed to reach into Gaza. He asked all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law.
