Comoros–Palestine relations

Comorian–Palestinian relations

Comoros

Palestine

Comoros–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations between the Comoros and Palestine.

Both nations are members of the Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

History

The Comoros recognized Palestinian statehood on 21 November 1988.[1]

In May 2013, the Comoros asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel for the Gaza flotilla raid on MV Mavi Marmara which was headed to Gaza.[2][3][4] Although Israel is not a member of the ICC, the lawyer said the Mavi Marmara was sailing under flag of the Comoros and many Turks were on board. [5] In May 2013, Fatou Bensouda, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, opened a preliminary examination into the incident after the Government of Comoros, under whose flag the Mavi Marmara was sailing, filed a complaint.[6] In November 2014, Bensouda decided not to pursue the case, declaring that the possible crimes were not grave enough to fall within the scope of the court.[7] The government of the Comoros appealed the decision, and in June 2015, three judges of a Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC ruled that the prosecutor made material errors in her assessment of the incident's gravity and requested that the investigation be reopened in a 2–1 majority. Bensouda appealed the decision in July 2015, citing the opinion of the dissenting judge and errors made by the majority, claiming that the Pre-Trial Chamber had exceeded its mandate by applying a strict and mistaken standard to review the decision, and that the interpretation of the legal standard required of her was faulty.[8] Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda refused to prosecute the case again in 2019.[2]

In October 2021, Israeli media reported that the Comoros planned to establish ties with Israel.[9]

In June 2023, the Comoros agreed to attend the Negev Forum which includes Israel.[10] In November 2023, the Comoros joined the South African case at the International Criminal Court to investigate the situation in Gaza during the Gaza war.[11][12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ ""Hundred and thirty-first Session: Item 9.4 of the provisional agenda, Request for the Admission of the State of Palestine to UNESCO as a Member State"". United Nations Educational, Scientific; Cultural Organization, Executive Board. United Nations. 12 May 1989. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "ICC prosecutor again refuses to investigate Gaza flotilla raid". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  3. ^ "ICC launches inquiry into Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla". BBC News. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  4. ^ Akande, Dapo (2013-05-15). "Court between A Rock and a Hard Place: Comoros Refers Israel's Raid on Gaza Flotilla to the ICC". EJIL: Talk!. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  5. ^ Hirsch, Afua (8 October 2010). "Gaza flotilla attack: calls for international criminal court to step in". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 1 July 2011. . Turkish victims ask international criminal court to pursue Israeli gunmen over raid on ship
  6. ^ "ICC opens initial probe against Israel over Marmara raid". The Times of Israel. 14 May 2013.
  7. ^ "As ICC closes Marmara case, Israel says it should never have been opened". The Times of Israel.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Comoros close to normalising ties with Israel: report". The New Arab. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  10. ^ Ravid, Barak (28 June 2023). "Scoop: Somalia and Comoros agree to attend Negev Forum meeting". Axios. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Five nations seek war crimes probe in Palestinian territories". DAWN.COM. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  12. ^ "A quick guide to South Africa's ICJ case against Israel". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  13. ^ Lawal, Shola. "BRICS condemns Israel war on Gaza in signal to the West". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-20.