Palestinian minister launches ICC case against Israeli "war crimes"

A French lawyer said on Friday he had lodged a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on behalf of the Palestinian justice minister who accuses the Israeli army of "war crimes."

More than 830 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza, launched on 7 July.

The complaint targets "war crimes committed by the Israeli army in June and July 2014 in Palestine" in the context of the operation known as Protective Edge, Gilles Devers told reporters.

"Israel, the occupying power, is carrying out a military operation which in principle and form violates the basis of international law," he said.

"Every day new crimes are committed and over 80 percent of the victims are civilians. Children, women, hospitals, UN schools... the Israeli soldiers respect nothing.

"This is a military attack against the Palestinian population."

The Israeli offensive has left more than 5,200 Palestinians injured, according to emergency services in Gaza.

33 Israeli soldiers and three civilians have died, too.

The Palestinian Authority, which has non-member observer state status at the United Nations, has not yet signed up to the Hague-based ICC, due to what Devers said were "political" quarrels over the Palestinians' status.

But according to Devers, the complaint is still valid.

The UN Human Rights Council is launching a probe into Israel's offensive in Gaza, with rights chief Navi Pillay saying the state's military actions could amount to war crimes.