Mexico and Chile have expressed “growing worry” over escalating violence in Gaza after several months of fighting between Israel and Hamas in a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over possible crimes, Reuters reports.

In a statement, Mexico’s foreign ministry argued that the ICC is the proper forum to establish potential criminal responsibility, “whether committed by agents of the occupying power or the occupied power”.

The statement cited “numerous reports from the United Nations that detail many incidents that could constitute crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction.”

Mexico added it was closely following the ICC case presented last week in which South Africa accused Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza.

Mexico “trusts that these actions … can pave the way for an immediate ceasefire and contribute to moving toward lasting peace in the region based on a solution of two states which coexist within secure and internationally recognised borders.”