KUALA LUMPUR: The International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the Palestinian crisis is "long overdue", says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister alleged Israel had committed war crimes against the Palestinian people and that they should be tried in court.

"If that happens, that is a good result from our meeting. It is long overdue," he said at a press conference after Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 was concluded on Saturday (Dec 21).

It was reported that the ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will be launching an investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

Dr Mahathir related that when Malaysia tried to send aid and provisions to the Palestinians, they were stopped from doing so.

"Our ships were detained, including also ships coming from Turkey. They were not allowed to go and deliver aid to Gaza.

"This was done in international waters. You cannot do those things in international waters. If we invade their national waters, then yes they can take action.

"But we were at international waters, they came with their gunboats, stopped our ships and towed our ships to their ports. Until now we don't know whether the aid that was intended for Gaza was delivered. In the process, nine people were killed," he said.

In 2010, a flotilla of boats – which included a delegation from Malaysia – were detained by Israeli forces in international waters while sending aid to Gaza.