The International Court of Justice is convening the second day of hearings in the coming hours as part of a week-long process. Representatives from 52 countries will present oral arguments on the legality of Israel’s 57-year-long occupation of Palestinian territories and the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian legal team commenced the hearings in The Hague yesterday, Monday, while Israel has chosen not to participate in the sessions and requested the Court to abstain from involvement.
On Tuesday, the Court will hear oral arguments from representatives of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, South Africa, Canada, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Chile, Brazil, Belgium, Belize, and Bolivia.
According to the United Nations Media Center, the sessions are part of the United Nations General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion from the Court on the consequences of Israel’s ongoing occupation for over 57 years. The hearings will continue for six days, from February 19 to February 26.
In December 2022, the General Assembly requested the Court’s advisory opinion on the legal consequences “arising from Israel’s ongoing violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, its long-term occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967, its settlement and annexation activities, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and its adoption of discriminatory legislation and measures in this regard.”
The proceedings before the Court today differ from the case brought by South Africa against Israel regarding Israel’s non-compliance with the Genocide Convention in the occupied Palestinian territories during its military campaign following attacks that led to the displacement of the majority of Gaza’s inhabitants and the death of about 28,000 Palestinians in just over four months.
Diaa Rashwan, Head of the State Information Service, announced that Egypt would participate in the advisory proceedings requested by the United Nations General Assembly from the International Court of Justice regarding Israeli policies and practices in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. Egypt has submitted a memorandum to the Court and will present an oral argument on February 21, 2024.
Rashwan added that the oral argument would emphasize the Court’s jurisdiction to provide the advisory opinion, as the United Nations General Assembly is authorized by the Charter to request advisory opinions from the Court.
The matter involves the legal dimensions of Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, contrary to international law principles and United Nations resolutions.
Egypt’s memorandum reaffirms the illegality of Israel’s occupation lasting over 75 years, in violation of international humanitarian law principles, including policies of land annexation, home demolition, and the forced displacement and expulsion of Palestinians. It also rejects Israeli policies of persecution, racial discrimination, and other practices that flagrantly violate international humanitarian law and human rights law principles.