On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced the Prosecution Office's intent to proceed with an investigation into the Situation in Palestine. As noted in a press release from the ICC, "[t]he investigation will cover crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court that are alleged to have been committed in the Situation since 13 June 2014." 

The announcement refers to the "positive and negative" reaction to the February 5 decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I relating to the jurisdiction of the ICC in this Situation (previously covered by ILIB) and noted that because of the mixed reactions to the decision, "some measure of reason and balance should be restored to the discussion." In particular, Prosecutor Bensouda stated: "In discharging its responsibilities, my Office will take the same principled, non-partisan, approach that it has adopted in all situations over which its jurisdiction is seized. We have no agenda other than to meet our statutory duties under the Rome Statute with professional integrity."

The Prosecutor's Office will next set investigative priorities, in consideration of limited resources, as exacerbated by the pandemic.