AP, ready to sue Israel for war crimes

Palestinian foreign minister, Riad al-Malki, has announced that there is "clear evidence" implicating Israel in war crimes during its offensive in Gaza, while prosecutors met with the International Criminal Court in The Hague, on Tuesday , with the aim to promote further investigation.

Malki visited The Hague just a few moments after Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which dominates Gaza, launched 3-day period of peace brokered by Egypt, an initial attempt to provide a more long-term truce.

Last week, the United Nations launched an investigation into the violation of human rights and alleged crimes committed by Israel during its offensive, seeing the extremely large number of civilian casualties and massive destruction of infrastructure among Palestinians.

"Everything has happened in these 28 days is a clear evidence of war crimes carried out by Israel, may even be considered crimes against humanity," Malki said. "There is no difficulty for us, for display or for raising this issue. The evidence is there, people can see and can collect. Israel has openly violated international law. "

Malki told reporters that the Palestinian Authority, which dominates the West Bank, seeks to provide full jurisdiction of the Hague Court to investigate alleged war crimes by both sides in the Gaza conflict, and that has discussed this problem with prosecutors to join the court.

Until the Palestinians totally join the United Nations, where they have won the country's only observer status in the General Assembly during the 2012's, hardly the Palestinian Authority will come to the assistance of the Hague Court, however, the application is expected to be "more quickly, "writes Foreign Minister.

Just by joining the court, the Palestinian territories would open the door for investigations of war crimes committed by all opposing parties, even between Hamas and Fatah within their borders.

"We want to make sure that indeed, if we take the decision to join the Hague, then all Palestinian factions to accept this decision, you must know in advance the consequences of their decision and scope," Malki said.

But, according to analysts, Hamas can hardly accept membership in The Hague, if it would mean great chances that their leadership was being investigation by the Hague for what they call legitimate defense against Israeli occupation.