Mexico, Chile refer Israel-Hamas conflict to ICC over potential crimes

Source: Reuters

Mexico, Chile refer Israel-Hamas conflict to ICC over potential crimes

By Kylie Madry
January 18, 2024 3:05 PM EST Updated 13 min ago

MEXICO CITY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Mexico and Chile expressed "growing worry" on Thursday over "an escalation of violence" after several months of war between Israel and Hamas in a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over possible crimes.

Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in Israel in October, killing 1,200 mostly civilians and seizing 253 hostages, with multiple accounts later emerging of rape and mutilation.

The Israeli retaliatory offense on the Hamas-led Gaza Strip has led to increasing international alarm and scrutiny over the deaths of civilians, especially children. Gaza health authorities said on Thursday the war's death toll had risen to 24,620, with many more feared buried under the rubble.

In a statement, Mexico's foreign ministry argued that the ICC was the proper forum to establish potential criminal responsibility, "whether committed by agents of the occupying power or the occupied power."

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/mexico-chile-refer-israel-hamas-conflict-court-over-possible-crimes-2024-01-18/

Alternate no-paywall link: https://news.yahoo.com/mexico-chile-refer-israel-hamas-183423229.html