NEW YORK, November 4. /TASS/. The families of 11 victims of the October 7 Hamas attack have filed a complaint to the International Criminal Court, accusing the radical Palestinian group of "crimes against humanity," CNN reported, citing a statement for news media by their lawyer Francois Zimeray.
"It was the execution of a genocidal plan," the statement said. "The truth must be defended, these atrocities must be known and engraved in the collective memory."
The lawyer said Hamas "the material facts cannot <…> be disputed" as Hamas has "amply documented and broadcast" its actions. He asked the prosecution to "consider the advisability of issuing an international arrest warrant for the leaders of Hamas," CNN reported.
International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan visited the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on October 29 and called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law and work to make sure Gazans get humanitarian aid. He said he tried to reach Gaza but failed so far.
The ICC Prosecutor's Office opened investigations in the Palestinian territories in 2021. They concern possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups. Khan told Reuters on October 12 that any purported crimes committed during the current escalation of the conflict are also covered by the prosecution's mandate.