10 countries present legal arguments at ICJ against Israel’s occupation of Palestine

RAMALLAH: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague continued its public hearings on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Yesterday, South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile presented their legal briefings before the court. 10 countries are secluded today to present their legal arguments at the ICJ in relation to South Africa's genocide case against Israel, underscoring its unlawful occupation of Gaza. The countries are Colombia, Cuba, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Russia, France, Gambia, Guyana, and Hungary. The public sessions will continue for six days, between February 19 and 26, to listen to briefings from 52 countries, in addition to the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States. The hearings come based on the United Nations Gen eral Assembly's request to obtain an advisory opinion from ICJ on the effects of the Israeli occupation that has continued for more than 57 years. On November 11, 2022, the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the Special Committee on Political Issues and Decolonization, adopted a draft resolution submitted by the State of Palestine to request a legal advisory opinion and advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, on the nature of the existence of the Israeli colonial occupation in the territory of the State of Palestine, including Jerusalem. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA