Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday promised to extend legal support to Palestine if the country sought justice in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for "war crimes and crimes against humanity and peace" perpetrated by Israel in Gaza.

"We urge the International Criminal Court to take it [the issue of war crimes] into cognisance to uphold its mandate to address the issue by bringing the offenders to justice," he told a discussion on "Independence and Genocide besieged Palestine: Bangladesh and World Conscience."

It was organised at the capital's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh by Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, an anti-war crimes platform. The minister said Israel should be sent a message of denial for its wanton aggression through trade embargos, a ban on transfer of arms, and visa restrictions on its citizens responsible for committing "war crimes and crimes against humanity".

Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Nirmul Committee, and Tureen Afroze, prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal, said Palestine could take help from Bangladesh's experience in prosecuting war crimes.

Justice Syed Amirul Islam, adviser of the committee, urged the prime minister to arrange a non-alliance conference with Asian, African and Latin American nations.

Palestinian Ambassador Shaher Mohammad thanked Bangladeshis for their solidarity and support and said that till now the embassy had received $300,000 from people from all walks of life for the people of Gaza.

"We are constantly getting telephone calls at our embassy from people willing to donate money and medicines for the people of Gaza," he said.

He also thanked Hasina for taking a bold stand on the Palestinian issue and raising voice against the supporters of Israel. 

 “I want to tell you something which nobody can do it in an Eid day. The great Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked me about the situation in Gaza. She said we don't blame Israel, we blame America,” the envoy said, reports UNB.

He said US Ambassador Dan Mozena was beside him when he was briefing Hasina on Gaza.

Quoting Hasina, the diplomat said they (Bangladeshis) blamed America because they supported Israel, but US envoy opposed it saying "no no".

 “Then the prime minister said, yes, this is the truth; we don't blame Israel, we blame the great supporters of Israel,” Shaher quoted Hasina as saying.

Appreciating Hasina's stance, the diplomat said, “You can't find a leader in the world who directly speaks up against America in such way.”

Since July 8, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians and children.