ICJ hearing: Palestine demands an immediate end to Israel’s occupation

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Maliki told the UN’s top court Monday his people were suffering “colonialism and apartheid“ under the Israelis, as judges weigh the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding hearings all week on the legal implications of Israel’s occupation since 1967, with an unprecedented 52 countries expected to give evidence. Nations including the US, Russia, and China will address judges at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the ICJ. Al-Maliki urged the court to declare the Israeli occupation illegal and order it to stop “immediately, totally and unconditionally.“ The week’s hearings come after the UN General Assembly in December 2022 asked the ICJ for “advisory opinion“ on the “legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.“ While any ICJ opinion would be non-binding, it comes amid mounting international legal pressure on Israel over its brutal war on Gaza since October. The hearings are also separate from a high-profile case brought by South Africa earlier this year, where it alleged that Israel is committing genocidal acts during the current Gaza offensive. Full story: #gaza #gaza_stop #freepalestine #palestine #ceasefirenow #icj #thehague