The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said, she wants to open a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories.<br />'' <br />'' In a statement Bensouda said, she has found a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine as war crimes are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.<br />'' <br />'' The statement did not specify the perpetrators of the alleged crimes. Her statement sparked a furious reaction from Israel and condemnation from the United States.<br />'' <br />'' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said,  Washington is "firmly" opposed to an International Criminal Court probe into alleged Israeli war crimes.<br />'' <br />'' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, the decision made the Hague-based court, a "political tool" against the Jewish. Israel and the United States have both refused to sign up to the court, which was set up in 2002 to be the only global tribunal trying the world's worst crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity.<br />'' <br />'' Meanwhile, Palestinians have welcomed the move and described it as a "long overdue step" following a nearly five-year preliminary probe by the prosecutor into the situation since the 2014 war in Gaza.