Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Riad al-Malki, discussed with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, the developments of ICC’s preliminary examinations in light of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declaration on settlements, warning against Israel’s exploitation of this declaration by taking illegal actions to speed up the annexation of the Jordan Valley.
Al-Malki also spoke about the Israeli authorities’ policy of deliberate and systematic medical negligence against Palestinian prisoners, citing the case of cancer-stricken prisoner, Sami Abu Diak, who died a few days ago following severe deterioration on his health, the Palestinian News and Info Agency reported.
This came on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) currently held in Hague, Netherlands.
Al-Malki stressed the need to open an immediate and urgent criminal investigation in light of the continued Israeli occupations’ crimes against the Palestinian people. He stated that the US declaration that they no longer consider the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as violating international law, is in utter contempt of international law and United Nations resolutions.
Photo: PNN
Edited for IMEMC: Ali Salam
