US insists on covering up Israeli crimes against Palestinians: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has censured the United States over its opposition to a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to proceed with an investigation into war crimes committed by Israeli forces in the occupied territories.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in a statement issued on Saturday that Washington’s behavior points to its “insistence on providing cover for the atrocities and violations … committed against the Palestinian people.”

The US administration, he added, emboldens the Israeli regime to perpetrate more crimes against the Palestinian nation.

The Hamas official described US President Donald Trump’s team as the Tel Aviv regime’s willing accomplice in crimes against Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that Washington was against the ICC probe into the Israeli war crimes. “We firmly oppose this and any other action that seeks to target Israel unfairly.”

Earlier in the day, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said a preliminary examination into the war crimes, opened in 2015, had provided enough information to meet all criteria for opening an inquiry.

There was “a reasonable basis” to investigate the situation in Palestine, she said. “I am satisfied that ... war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including al-Quds, and the Gaza Strip.”

The ICC decision has been widely welcomed by Palestinian officials, with President Mahmoud Abbas calling the occasion a “great” and “historic” day.

“We have achieved what we want, and from this day on, the ICC machine will start accepting the cases that we have previously presented,” he said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has said the ICC announcement "constitutes a stand for justice and truth."

SS