The Palestinian Authority (PA) has filed a complaint to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over "the increase of Israeli harm to the rights of Palestinian children."

The step came after the Israeli authorities refused to release Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi, 16, but extended her detention for the fifth time because of “attacking Israeli soldiers.”

Palestinian Foreign Minister Reyad Maleki called in a statement on Saturday on the ICC to “exercise her legal authority without delay to prevent the continuation of crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.”

He mentioned the case of Tamimi, who was detained by Israeli forces earlier on Dec. 19 as “another proof on Israeli policies and crimes” against the Palestinians.

“This complaint against Israeli criminals is a proof on the necessity to accelerate the opening of a criminal investigation to guarantee fair justice to Palestinian children and victims,” he said.