JERUSALEM (JTA) — Spain’s National Court ended its investigation of Israeli war crimes.
Monday’s decision to end the probe of an Israeli bombing that killed Hamas leader Salah Shehade in the Gaza Strip came after the Spanish parliament granted preliminary approval to legislation saying that cases investigated by the court must involve a Spanish citizen or a defendant actually on Spanish soil.
Judge Fernando Andreu had announced in May that he would pursue an investigation into the 2002 bombing even though prosecutors advised against it and Israel investigated the murder, according to reports.
The court, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, had said that it could investigate and try human rights and war crimes cases if the country of origin did not. It has investigated such cases throughout the world.
