Mexico and Chile Request ICC Probe into Palestinian Territories

Mexico and Chile have called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct an investigation into potential crimes in the Palestinian territories. This request, according to a statement from Mexico’s foreign ministry, comes amidst concerns about the recent surge in violence, especially against civilians, and possible ongoing crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

These concerns particularly stem from the events following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. While the statement did not explicitly name Israel, the country has been accused of targeting civilian areas, although Israel maintains that its actions are aimed at Hamas, not civilians.

This move by Mexico and Chile follows a similar action taken two months earlier when South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti submitted a referral to the ICC. Additionally, South Africa recently accused Israel of genocide in a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Both Israel and the United States have dismissed these allegations made by South Africa.