Israeli group levels torture accusations against the Palestinian Authority, group submits claim to ICC

"An Israeli-based legal network of lawyers and activists has filed a submission to the International Criminal Court alleging the systemic torture of Palestinians by the group that oversees part of the West Bank and its reported liability for the captivity of Israelis in the Gaza Strip.

The International Legal Forum is alleging the Palestinian National Authority and its leadership – President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh – routinely engage in torturing Palestinians, including journalists, political opponents, dissidents, human rights activists, minors and members of the LGBTQ community.

The group is calling for the ICC to launch an investigation into the allegations and prosecute the PA leaders.

'Enough is enough. It is long past time that the Palestinian Authority was held accountable for their ongoing and systematic torture of the Palestinian people, as well as responsibility for the torture of four Israeli citizens, currently being held captive in Gaza,' ILF CEO Arsen Ostrovsky said in a statement. 'These are egregious and indisputable violations of international law, which the ICC ought to investigate and prosecute accordingly.'..."