Public hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israeli practices in Palestine began on Monday.
The public hearings started following the UN General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
A General Assembly resolution asked the ICJ to determine legal consequences “arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” and “from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures.”
At least 50 countries will present their arguments regarding the legality or otherwise of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories, according to the court.
South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel to the ICJ in late December and asked it to grant emergency measures to end the bloodshed in Gaza, where more than 28,600 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7.
The court on Jan. 26 ordered Israel to take “all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza but fell short of ordering a cease-fire.
It also ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective” measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.
A cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7 killed less than 1,200 people, but the ensuing Israeli offensive into Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Despite international outcry, Israel now plans a ground invasion of Rafah, which holds around 1.4 million refugees.
Palestine Foreign Minister Urges an End to Illegal Occupation
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki addressed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday, urging the court to terminate the Israeli occupation and deem it “illegal.”
“We call upon the International Court of Justice to declare the Israeli occupation illegal and emphasize the necessity of ending it immediately and unconditionally,” al-Maliki said during an in hearing session at the ICJ.
The court sessions commenced Monday regarding the legal implications arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
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“It is time to end double standards and enforce international laws on all countries without exception,” he said.
Highlighting the stark realities faced by Palestinians, the minister said: “Israel has left Palestinians with only three options: either displacement, detention, or death.”
Al-Maliki further said: “Palestine remains the greatest test of the credibility of the international system based on laws, and humanity cannot bear its failure.”
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. The ensuing Israeli attacks have killed nearly 29,000 and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities, while less than 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.
The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.