President Mahmud Abbas yesterday signed a Palestinian request to join the International Criminal Court, seeking a new avenue for action against Israel after a failed UN resolution on ending the occupation.

The Palestinians hope ICC membership will pave the way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their actions in the occupied territories.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly hit back, saying the Palestinians have "more to fear" than Israel from the Hague-based court referring to Hamas.

The ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and Palestinian plans to become a party to the court have been strongly opposed by Israel and the United States.

US yesterday said it 'strongly opposes' Palestinian ICC membership bid.

Abbas signed the request along with applications to join 20 other international conventions during a meeting broadcast live on Palestinian television.

It came one day after the UN Security Council rejected a resolution on ending the Israeli occupation.

The resolution would have set a 12-month deadline for Israel to reach a final peace deal with the Palestinians, and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories by the end of 2017.

Council heavyweights China, France and Russia were among eight countries voting in favour, while the United States and Australia voted against. Nigeria, which had been expected to support the resolution, was among five abstentions, which included Britain, Rwanda, Lithuania and South Korea.

Israel yesterday summoned the French ambassador, saying it was "disappointed and perplexed" by his country's support for the UN resolution.

The failure to win the nine votes necessary for adoption spared Washington having to wield its veto, which would have caused it embarrassment with key Arab allies.

But it was also a diplomatic blow for the Palestinians, who had counted on the symbolic victory of nine votes, even though the resolution would in all likelihood have been vetoed by the United States.

But Russia denounced the outcome oftheUNvoteas "a strategic error."

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi also expressed regret, criticising the African nations that abstained and pledging to continue “intensive Arab diplomatic activity" in support of the Palestinian cause.