THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Palestinian diplomat informed the United Nations’ high courtroom on Monday that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and focusing on assist staff in Gaza, in a case that Israel criticized as a part of its “systematic persecution and delegitimization.”
Israel denies intentionally focusing on civilians and assist workers as a part of its battle with Hamas and didn’t attend the listening to on the Worldwide Court docket of Justice.
In The Hague, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of breaching worldwide legislation within the occupied territories.
“Israel is ravenous, killing and displacing Palestinians whereas additionally focusing on and blocking humanitarian organizations making an attempt to save lots of their lives,” he informed the courtroom.
The hearings are focussed on a request final yr from the U.N. Normal Meeting, which requested the courtroom to weigh in on Israel’s authorized tasks after the nation blocked the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees from working on its territory.
In a decision sponsored by Norway, the Normal Meeting requested an advisory opinion, a non-binding however legally vital resolution from the courtroom, on Israel’s obligations within the occupied territories to “guarantee and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently wanted provides important to the survival of the Palestinian civilian inhabitants?”
Hearings opened because the humanitarian assist system in Gaza is nearing collapse. Israel has blocked the entry of meals, gas, medication and different humanitarian provides since March 2. It renewed its bombardment on March 18, breaking a ceasefire, and seized massive components of the territory, saying it goals to push Hamas to launch extra hostages. Regardless of the stepped-up Israeli strain, ceasefire efforts stay deadlocked.
A protestor with a Palestinian flag waits for others to reach on the Worldwide Court docket of Justice which opens hearings right into a United Nations request for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations to permit humanitarian help in Gaza and the West Financial institution, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 28, 2025. Credit score: AP/Peter Dejong
The World Meals Program stated final week its meals shares within the Gaza Strip have run out, ending a predominant supply of sustenance for a whole bunch of 1000’s of Palestinians as many households are struggling to feed their youngsters.
What’s going to occur within the courtroom?
The United Nations was the primary to deal with the courtroom on Monday, adopted by Palestinian representatives. In complete, 40 states and 4 worldwide organizations are scheduled to take part.
The US, which voted in opposition to the U.N. decision, is scheduled to talk on Wednesday.
The courtroom will seemingly take months to rule. However specialists say the choice, although not legally binding, might profoundly impression worldwide jurisprudence, worldwide assist to Israel and public opinion.
A girl carrying a keffieh stands in entrance of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice which opens hearings right into a United Nations request for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations to permit humanitarian help in Gaza and the West Financial institution, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 28, 2025. Credit score: AP/Peter Dejong
“Advisory opinions present readability,” Juliette McIntyre, an professional on worldwide legislation on the College of South Australia, informed The Related Press. Governments depend on them in worldwide negotiations and the result could possibly be used to strain Israel into easing restrictions on assist.
Whether or not any ruling will impact Israel, nonetheless, is unclear. Israel has lengthy accused the United Nations of being unfairly biased in opposition to it and has ignored a 2004 advisory ruling by the ICJ that discovered its West Financial institution separation barrier unlawful.
Whereas Israel was not in courtroom, Overseas Minister Gideon Saar hit again on the case.
“I accuse UNRWA, I accuse the U.N., I accuse the secretary-general and I accuse all those who weaponized worldwide legislation and its establishments with the intention to deprive probably the most attacked nation on this planet, Israel, of its most simple proper to defend itself,” he informed a information convention in Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, South Africa, a staunch critic of Israel, will current its arguments. In hearings final yr in a separate case on the courtroom, the nation accused Israel of committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinians in Gaza — a cost Israel denies. These proceedings are nonetheless underway.
Israel’s troubled relations with UNRWA
Israel’s ban on the company, referred to as UNRWA, which gives assist to Gaza, got here into impact in January. The group has confronted elevated criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who declare the group is deeply infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA rejects that declare.
On Monday, Amir Weissbrod, a Overseas Ministry official, introduced Israel’s case in opposition to UNRWA. He accused it of failing to behave earlier than the battle in opposition to proof that Hamas had used its services, together with by digging tunnels beneath them. The official stated UNRWA employed 1,400 Palestinians with militant ties. Israel says a few of these workers additionally took half in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assaults and Weissbrod stated no less than three of these workers nonetheless labored for the U.N. The presentation included movies, paperwork and photos of the alleged workers.
The Oct. 7, 2023, assault in southern Israel killed about 1,200 individuals and set off the battle in Gaza. UNRWA stated it fired 9 staffers after an inside U.N. investigation concluded that they may have been concerned, though the proof was not authenticated and corroborated.
The Israeli ban does not apply on to Gaza. However it controls all entry to the territory, and its ban on UNRWA from working inside Israel significantly limits the company’s means to operate. Israeli officers say they’re in search of other ways to ship assist to Gaza that will lower out the United Nations.
UNRWA was established by the U.N. Normal Meeting in 1949 to offer reduction for Palestinians who fled or had been expelled from their houses in what’s now Israel throughout the battle surrounding Israel’s creation the earlier yr till there’s a political answer to the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
The company has been offering assist and companies — together with well being and training — to some 2.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Financial institution and east Jerusalem, in addition to 3 million extra in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Israel’s air and floor battle has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, principally girls and youngsters, based on the Gaza Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say how most of the lifeless had been civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 militants, with out offering proof.
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Related Press author Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
