Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes in Palestine

10.2.2021

Question for written answer  E-000820/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
César Luena (S&D)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently declared itself competent to try war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories, despite the fact that the State of Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute. In accordance with the Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the European Union on Cooperation and Assistance (2006) and Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP of 21 March 2011:

• 1.Does the Commission intend to work together with the ICC in the investigation into the expansion of settlements and the demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, which have been repeatedly denounced as being contrary to international law?
• 2.What concrete support measures does the Commission intend to take to enforce the 2006 Cooperation Agreement, and in particular Article 7 thereof on exchange of information? Does the EU intend to take the initiative to submit documents which may be relevant to the investigations to the ICC such as those relating to the demolition of Bedouin villages or the destruction of EU-funded infrastructure such as water reservoirs?