DHAKA: Palestine Wednesday officially joined the International Criminal Court, ICC, becoming the 123rd member of the court and fourth Arab country in addition to Jordan, Djibouti and Tunisia, reports WAM, an emirates news agency.

The State of Palestine had submitted their instruments of accession to the Rome Statute in early January.

From April 1, the court will have automatic jurisdiction over any crimes committed in the territory of the Palestinian Authority, or by its citizens.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations had asked the State of Palestine to join the International Criminal Court, a move that allows the court to open cases from the first of April about serious crimes committed on the occupied Palestinian territories.

BDST: 1440 HRS, APR 01, 2015