(VOVworld) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Palestine will join the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 1, a move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crime charges against Israel. Ban said he signed documents allowing Palestine to join 16 UN treaties, conventions, and agreements. 

Israel froze the transfer of 127 million USD in tax revenues following Abbas’s decision to join the join the ICC. (Photo: Reuters)

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said Palestine hails the UN approval as a step closer to justice for all the victims of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. Joining the ICC is part of a broader Palestinian strategy to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the occupied territories and agreeing to Palestinian statehood. A resolution to advance Palestinian statehood was rejected by the UN Security Council.