Palestinian envoy tells court aid used as a \u2018weapon of war\u2019 as Israeli foreign minister condemns \u2018delegitimisation\u2019 of his country
\n Gaza
\nThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) has opened hearings to gauge Israel\u2019s responsibility for the humanitarian crisis engulfing Gaza during its war against Hamas.
\nThe hearings, which began on Monday in The Hague and will run throughout the week, follow a request last year from the United Nations General Assembly asking the court to assess Israel\u2019s responsibility to ensure the provision of essential supplies to Gaza.
\nSince the start of the war 18 months ago, Israel has blocked aid, leaving Palestinians facing severe shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine.
\nOver the next five days, 38 countries \u2013 including the United States, China, France, Russia and Saudi Arabia \u2013 will address the 15-judge panel to consider how Israel\u2019s actions comply with international law.
\nThe League of Arab States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and African Union will also present their arguments about Israel\u2019s obligations to ensure aid reaches Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u2018Weapon of war\u2019
\nTop Palestinian official Ammar Hijazi told the judges that Israel was blocking aid to use as a \u201cweapon of war\u201d.
\nNo food or medical supplies have reached the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip since March 2 when Israel imposed what has become its longest ever blockade of the territory. It was followed two weeks later by the collapse of a two-month ceasefire.
\n\u201cThese are the facts. Starvation is here. Humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war,\u201d Hijazi said.
\nThe ICJ has been tasked by the UN with providing an advisory opinion \u201con a priority basis and with the utmost urgency\u201d.
\nWhile no immediate ruling is expected, the court\u2019s advisory opinion will likely shape future international legal approaches.
\nHowever, it is nonbinding, meaning its impact depends on whether states choose to enforce or ignore it.
\nThe ruling \u201cwill likely be ignored by Israel, as it has done with other judgements from the ICJ, the International Criminal Court and other international legal bodies,\u201d Al Jazeera\u2019s Rory Challands said, reporting from The Hague.
\nHowever, he added that \u201cthe tide of pressure is mounting\u201d on Israel as a growing list of international courts have ruled against its actions.
\nWhat the UN is saying, Challands noted, is that \u201cIsrael basically has a twofold obligation here under international law. It has an obligation as an occupying power in the Palestinian territories \u2026 That includes children\u2019s education and welfare systems, medical facilities, including UN-established hospitals, and humanitarian relief operations. If it doesn\u2019t do those things, then it\u2019s in contravention of its obligations under international law.\u201d
\n\u201cIt also has an obligation as a signatory to the UN Charter, because under that, the UN has immunities and exemptions that set it apart from other institutions and other multilateral organisations\u201d, Challands continued.
\n\u2018Systematic persecution\u2019
\nThe ICJ will consider the positions of both state actors and international organisations in its deliberations.
\nHowever, it will not hear from Israeli representatives directly. Rather, Tel Aviv has submitted written advice and objections.
\nIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to the opening of the hearings by branding them \u201cpart of a systematic persecution and delegitimisation of Israel\u201d in comments to reporters in Jerusalem.
\n\u201cIt is not Israel that should be on trial. It is the UN and UNRWA,\u201d he insisted, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel is preventing from delivering aid to Gaza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Palestinian envoy tells court aid used as a \u2018weapon of war\u2019 as Israeli foreign minister condemns \u2018delegitimisation\u2019 of his country Gaza The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has opened hearings to gauge Israel\u2019s responsibility for the humanitarian crisis engulfing Gaza during its war against Hamas. The hearings, which began on Monday in The Hague and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":475332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-475347","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n