UN chief Ban Ki-moon has accepted the request by Palestinian Authority to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that would open the way for war crimes complaints against Israel.

The decision grants the Hague-based ICC ­jurisdiction to open cases as of April 1 on serious crimes committed in the Palestinian territories.

Ban notified states that are party to the ICC of the decision late Tuesday, UN spokesman ­Stephane Dujarric told AFP.

"The Secretary General has ascertained that the instruments received were in due and proper form before accepting them for deposit," said a UN statement.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas signed requests to join the ICC and 16 other conventions on Wednesday, a day after the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution paving the way to full statehood.

Israel has retaliated against the Palestinians by freezing some $127 million in tax revenue due to the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinians have asked the ICC to look into possible war crimes committed during last year's Gaza war.