On Friday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced that it had submitted the situation in Palestine to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor (OTP). South Africa's ambassador in The Hague, Vusi Madonsela, personally delivered the referral. This joint initiative includes other nations such as Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti, reflecting a collective effort to bring attention to what they deem a "grave situation in Palestine."

The ICC's Rome Statute allows a state party to refer a situation to the prosecutor if crimes within the court's jurisdiction are suspected. The goal is to prompt an investigation into whether specific individuals should be charged with the commission of such crimes. Venezuela also expressed its intent to support the referral by petitioning the court in writing to join the submission.

This move underscores the growing international concern over the situation in Palestine, with a group of like-minded nations urging the ICC to prioritize and expedite the investigation. As the ICC begins its examination of the referral, the eyes of the world will be on the unfolding developments and the potential implications for those involved in the alleged war crimes.