Lawyers representing a Gaza resident have submitted a formal complaint to the International Criminal Court's prosecutor, urging probes into 14 Hamas leaders for alleged crimes against Palestinian civilians.

Until now, the ICC has pursued charges against Hamas and Israeli figures solely for attacks on each other's populations amid the Gaza conflict, overlooking any Hamas actions targeting its own populace.

This filing stands as the inaugural instance of a Palestinian lodging such charges against Hamas at the court.

American lawyer Elliot Malin shared these details exclusively on Friday, collaborating with Eli Rosenbaum, ex-chief of the US Justice Department's Nazi-hunting unit, and French counsel Sarah Scialom.

The comprehensive 40-page document calls for investigations into these Hamas figures and potential arrest warrants over violations against Palestinians.

The complainant, a civilian from Gaza, endured the heartbreaking loss of his wife, children, and additional relatives during the war.

It argues convincingly that absent Hamas's war crimes, the man's family - along with many others - would still be alive.

Outlined offenses encompass war crimes such as employing civilians as human shields; targeting non-combatants; striking civilian infrastructure deliberately; inflicting severe suffering; destroying property; causing disproportionate civilian harm; assaulting safeguarded sites; violating personal dignity; recruiting child soldiers; and executing without fair trials.

Additionally, it cites crimes against humanity including murder, extermination, torture, and persecution.

The detailed filing highlights Hamas's notorious tactic of using Palestinian civilians as human shields - effectively sacrifices - as the primary driver behind Gaza's staggering casualties and devastation.

Such conduct blatantly contravenes the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Named Hamas operatives include Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Khaled Mashaal, Mahmoud al-Zahar, Mohammed Odeh, Muhannad Rajab, Khalil al-Hayya, Mousa Abu Marzook, Ghazi Hamad, Izzat al-Rishq, Fathi Hamad, Nizar Awadallah, Husam Badran, Zaher Jabarin, and Basem Naim.

Justice for Palestinian Victims

"Palestinians, our client included, merit accountability for the horrors inflicted by Hamas with Iran's support," Malin declared.

"The ICC prosecutor's office has ignored - and failed to pursue warrants for - Hamas's calculated crimes against its own during the war."

"Delivering justice here fulfills the ICC's core purpose. Neglecting it denies equal protection to those under its authority."

Malin urged that should the prosecutor sideline Palestinian Hamas victims, the court must demand explanations for this disparity.

"Compliant warfare by Hamas, without embedding among civilians, would have slashed the death toll dramatically," Rosenbaum noted.

"True international justice demands prompt reckoning for atrocities of this scale," Scialom asserted.

"The prosecutor's inaction emboldens repeat offenses as strategy and leaves Gaza's sufferers without vital truths."

Scialom expressed pride in advocating for the client, whose kin bore immense tragedy in the Gaza fighting.