Hamas signs Palestinian application for ICC membership‎

Hamas has signed a proposal for the Palestinians to apply to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), which could lead to legal action being taken against Israel for alleged war crimes, a senior official of the movement said on Saturday.

"Hamas signed the document which [Palestinian] president [Mahmoud Abbas] put forth as a condition that all factions approve, before he goes to sign the Rome Statute, which paves the way for Palestine's membership in the ICC," Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouq wrote on his Facebook page.

The Palestinian declaration came after two days of talks in Qatar between Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP that the Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful force in Gaza, "is currently the only Palestinian faction that has not signed" the document.

"They are studying the possibility of signing," he added.

According to Erekat, "the document calls on president Abbas to sign the Rome Statute to join the ICC, and indicates all the signatories assume responsibility for this membership."

Based in The Hague, the ICC opened its doors in 2003 and is the world's first independent court set up to try the worst crimes, including genocide and war crimes.

Since Israel launched its military assault on 8 July, both Hamas and Israeli officials have accused the other of committing war crimes.

If Palestine were to join the ICC it could also expose the factions to possible prosecution.

The Palestinians in 2009 had asked the ICC's prosecutor's office to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli military in Gaza.

There has so far been no probe as Palestine is not an ICC member state and its status as a state is uncertain in some international institutions.

However, the Palestinians in late November 2012 obtained the status of observer state at the UN, opening the door for an ICC investigation.

Israel has signed but not ratified the Rome Statute.