Palestine’s membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally goes into effect April 1, 2015. As Palestinians and proponents of international justice worldwide await the Office of the Prosecutor’s next move, it is important to assess what heavy-lifting the ICC could realistically undertake in the Palestine-Israel context as well as what other accountability avenues exist.

France sees a window of opportunity after Israel’s elections to get the United States on board with a new push for Mideast peace, and is preparing a draft U.N Security Council resolution in about 12 days, according to French diplomatic officials.

George Mitchell, the former senator and U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under President Obama, joins Democracy Now to discuss the escalating U.S.-Israel standoff over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign against an Iran nuclear deal and open rejection of the two-state solution.

he Palestinians formally joined the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, as part of a broader effort to put international pressure on Israel and exact a higher price for its occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state.

“Palestine’s decision to join theInternational Criminal Court (ICC) in the face of strong opposition – including from the United States, Israel, and Canada – deserves international support,” says Human Rights Watch.

Despondent over the slow pace of post-war reconstruction, displaced Gazans have begun to return to their damaged homes, patching up the structures with cinder blocks and plastic sheets and living in the unstable and unsafe buildings while they wait for promised aid to arrive.

New research by London-based NGO, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), has revealed that recent changes to Israel’s military rules of engagement have increased the risk to civilians in Gaza.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Economy Muhammad Mustafa has resigned his positions in Palestine’s unity government, it was announced Tuesday.

The political leader of the militant Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas says the results of Israel’s elections will further diminish hopes for peace.

“Water resources in Palestine are threatened, and in the absence of an outline for a tangible agreement with Israel, the future does not look promising,” writes Ahmad Melhem.

“Israel’s freezing of Palestinian tax revenues is contributing to the dire economic situation in the West Bank and could accelerate the beginning of another cycle of violence,” writes Shlomi Eldar.

“The rise of the Joint List chairman presents a unique opportunity to improve Jewish-Arab ties,” writes Don Futterman.