The International Criminal Court said Thursday it has sent formal notices to Israel and the Palestinian Authority about its impending investigation into possible war crimes, giving them a month to seek deferral by proving they are carrying out their own investigations.
Earlier this month, the ICC announced it would investigate possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants following a request by the Palestinians, who joined the court in 2015 after being granted nonmember observer status in the U.N. General Assembly.
The ICC prosecutor's office confirmed in a written statement that on March 9 the letters were sent to all of the court's member states and those states that would normally exercise jurisdiction, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority.