RAMALLAH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Saturday welcomed the International Criminal Court's launch of a preliminary inquiry into possible Israeli war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

"The decision is important and positive towards achieving justice and guaranteeing respect for the international law," the PNA Foreign Affairs Ministry said in an emailed press statement.

The ICC announced on Friday that it launched an initial survey "to check if there is a reasonable base for starting the probe into possible war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories."

The Palestinians have asked the ICC to investigate Israeli crimes since June 2014.

In late December, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed up to join 20 international treaties and agencies, including Rome Statute.

"Joining Rome Statute aimed at putting an end to the war crimes and the crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the Palestinians, and also aimed at suing Israel in the international courts," said the statement.

The ministry also expressed full readiness to cooperate with the ICC and facilitate its mission "until justice is achieved in the Palestinian territories," according to the statement.

The United States, like Israel, has argued that Palestine is not a state and therefore is not eligible to join the ICC, according to the Israeli Haaretz news website.