Hamas to sue Israel at Hague over Gaza

RAMALLAH, Gaza, July 4 (UPI) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government is filing a war crimes lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

In an interview published Tuesday in the London daily al-Quds al-Arabi, Palestinian Justice Minister Ahmad al-Khalidi said the suit was being drafted in response to the military build-up and attacks on Gaza for the past week.

He said Israeli air strikes on power and water stations and government buildings in the Gaza Strip as recently as Monday violate international law, Ynetnews reported.

Khalidi said the lawsuit would be a test of international attitudes.

"If they deny the rights of Palestinians, then the international community has to act responsibly when it comes to blocking the legal channels to the Palestinians, forcing them to use violence to defend ourselves and our people," he said.

Israel massed its troops along the border after Palestinian militants stormed an Israeli checkpoint and killed one soldier and kidnapped a 19-year-old corporal. Tuesday, the missing soldier's fate remained unclear.