New York - Saba:
The International Court of Justice will begin public hearings today, Monday, for an advisory opinion regarding Israel's obligations towards the United Nations and its agencies and bodies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the Court's agenda, oral arguments will be held from April 28 to May 2, 2025. Forty-four states and four international organizations have expressed their intention to participate in the hearings, which will be held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.
The five-day judicial marathon will begin in The Hague, the Netherlands, where representatives of the United Nations will begin their arguments before the Court's 15-judge panel. The State of Palestine will be the first to present its case, lasting most of the day.
During this week, 38 states will present their arguments, including the United States, China, France, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union.
This move comes in response to a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly last December, at the suggestion of Norway, calling on the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion defining Israel's obligations to facilitate and ensure unimpeded access to urgent humanitarian supplies for Palestinians.
Israel controls all aid flows into the Gaza Strip, where approximately 2.4 million Palestinians rely amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Israel tightened its blockade on March 2, days before the ceasefire collapsed, following the Israeli government's violation of the agreement following 15 months of continuous fighting.
In this context, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazaryny, described the situation as a "man-made, politically motivated famine."
According to the United Nations, approximately 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the collapse of the two-month ceasefire, while Israel resumed air and ground attacks on March 18, exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe, which the UN has described as "perhaps the worst" since the outbreak of the war.
Although the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions are not legally binding, such an opinion could increase international pressure on Israel.
In January 2024, the court called on Israel to prevent any acts that could amount to genocide and to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Last March, it also called for additional measures to address the widespread famine there, at the request of South Africa.
Last July, the court issued an advisory opinion describing the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as "illegal" and calling for its immediate end.
The court stated that 42 states and international organizations will participate in the oral arguments before the court, which are being held at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
Last December, the UN General Assembly requested the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations regarding the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third states in and in relation to the occupied Palestinian territories.
The week-long pleadings schedule will be as follows: On Monday, after the opening of the session, the United Nations, Palestine, Egypt, and Malaysia will make their arguments.
On the second day, Thursday, April 29: South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Spain.
On Wednesday, April 30: The United States, the Russian Federation, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, and Luxembourg.
On Thursday, May 1: The Maldives, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
On Friday, May 2: China, Senegal, Slovenia, Sudan, Switzerland, Comoros, Tunisia, Vanuatu, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union.
| more of (International) |