The state of Palestine will join the International Criminal Court on April 1, a high-stakes move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.

Key Points

• The Palestinians submitted the documents ratifying the Rome Statute that established the court, the last formal step to accepting the jurisdiction of the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal.

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed documents to join the ICC a day after the U.N. Security Council rejected a resolution on Dec. 30 that would have set a three-year deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state on lands occupied by Israel.

• Joining the ICC is part of a broader Palestinian strategy to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the territories and agreeing to Palestinian statehood.

• Palestinian President has been under heavy domestic pressure to take stronger action against Israel after a 50-day war between the Jewish state and militants in Gaza over the summer, tensions over holy sites in Jerusalem, and the failure of the last round of U.S.-led peace talks.

• The Palestinian decision to join the ICC has already sparked retaliation from Israel which froze the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds collected for the Palestinians and planning for tougher actions.

• The United States also opposed the move, calling it an obstacle to reaching a permanent peace agreement that would give the Palestinians an independent state.

• The Obama administration is reviewing its annual $440 million aid package to the Palestinians because of the decision to join the ICC.