Just as the first-ever trial at the ICC got on its way, several news agencies reported early this week that the prosecutor of the court would conduct a “preliminary analysis” of alleged crimes committed by Israelis during the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip (AFP; IHT; AP). Leaving the obviously one-sided character of the underlying allegation aside for a while let me briefly address some interesting legal aspects. This issue certainly raises the question of whether or not the ICC could have jurisdiction over the recent events in the Gaza Strip. According to the Rome Statute, which sets up the…