Reuters quoted two sources as saying that prosecutors from the International Criminal Court conducted interviews with workers at the two largest hospitals in Gaza, in the first confirmation that investigators from the court spoke to paramedics about possible crimes occurring in the Gaza Strip.

The two sources - who requested to remain anonymous - said that court investigators obtained testimonies from employees who worked at Al-Shifa Hospital, the main medical center in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, and from others who worked in Nasser Hospital, the main medical center in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The two sources refused to provide further details, citing concerns for the safety of potential witnesses.

One of them said that events that occurred in hospitals may become part of the investigation conducted by the court, which hears criminal cases against individuals accused of war crimes and others against humanity, as well as genocide and aggression.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the Court declined to comment on operational issues in ongoing investigations, citing the need to ensure the safety of victims and witnesses.

During the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the two main hospitals in Gaza were pivotal targets for the Israeli forces that besieged and stormed them, and committed massacres against civilians in them.

In the past few days, Palestinian officials also called for investigations after hundreds of bodies were exhumed from mass graves at Nasser Hospital. The two sources did not specify whether these graves were part of any investigation.

International treaties

Hospitals are protected during wars under international treaties, and this may make attacks on them war crimes under the International Criminal Court.

Israel is not a member of the International Criminal Court, but the Palestinian Authority became a member state in 2015. The court says this gives it jurisdiction over the actions of anyone, including Israeli soldiers, in the Palestinian territories.

This also gives the court jurisdiction over Palestinians anywhere, and the occupation government does not recognize any jurisdiction of the court over Israelis.

Any criminal case before this court will be separate from the case that South Africa submitted to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, hears lawsuits between states, while the International Criminal Court looks into criminal cases against individuals.

Netanyahu comments

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that any move by the International Criminal Court would not affect Israel's actions, but would "set a dangerous precedent that threatens soldiers and public figures."

“Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to undermine its fundamental right to defend itself,” he wrote on Telegram.

Israel has launched a devastating attack on the Gaza Strip since October 7, resulting in the death of more than 34,000 Palestinian martyrs, in addition to thousands of missing persons and tens of thousands of wounded.

Source: Reuters + Aljazeera