THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations Supreme Court on Monday held historic hearings questioning the legality of Israel's 57-year occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state, appointing 15 international judges. It would bring it back to the heart of Israel, where it had been for decades.・Palestinian conflict.
Six days of hearings are scheduled at the International Court of Justice, with an unprecedented number of countries taking part as Israel continues its destructive actions. attack on gaza.
The case takes place against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, but instead focuses on Israel's unrestricted occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
Palestinian representatives who will be the first to speak on Monday will argue that the Israeli occupation is illegal because it violates three key principles of international law, the Palestinian legal team told reporters on Wednesday. It's planned.
They claim that by annexing vast tracts of occupied territory, Israel violates the prohibition on territorial conquest, violates the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and imposes a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.
“We want to hear new words from the court,” said Omar Awadallah, director of the Palestinian Foreign Ministry's UN organization.
“The word genocide had to be considered in the South African case,” he said. another case In front of the court. “Now I want them to think about apartheid.”
Awadallah said the court's advisory opinion “will give us more tools to confront the illegality of the occupation using peaceful methods and tools of international law.”
It will likely take several months for the court to issue a decision. But experts say that while the decision is not legally binding, it could have a significant impact on international jurisprudence, international aid to Israel and public opinion.
“This case brings to court a series of accusations, allegations and complaints that are likely unpleasant and embarrassing for Israel, given the war and the already highly polarized international environment,” said Yuval Shani, a law professor at Hebrew University. It will be submitted to.'' Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute.
Israel is not scheduled to speak at the hearing, but may submit a written statement. Shani said Israel is likely to justify its continued occupation on security grounds, especially in the absence of a peace agreement.
That likely refers to the October 7 attack in which Hamas-led Gaza militants killed 1,200 people across southern Israel and pulled 250 hostages back to the Gaza Strip.
“There is a theory that any area that Israel withdraws from, such as Gaza, could potentially turn into a very serious security risk,” Shani said. “If anything, October 7 highlighted the traditional Israeli security rationale that justifies the endless occupation.”
But the Palestinians major rights groups Occupation is said to be much more than a means of defense. They argue that it has turned into an apartheid system, reinforced by the construction of settlements in the occupied territories, aimed at giving second-class status to Palestinians and maintaining Jewish hegemony from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. are doing. Israel rejects any accusation of apartheid.
The case went to court after the United Nations General Assembly voted by a wide margin in December 2022 to request a non-binding advisory opinion from the World Court. one of the world's longest-running and most vexing conflicts. This request was promoted by the Palestinians but vehemently opposed by Israel. Fifty countries abstained from voting.
In a written statement before the vote, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan said the measure was “outrageous,” the UN was “morally bankrupt and politicized,” and the potential decision from the court was “totally illegal.” ”.
After the Palestinians make their case, 51 countries and three organizations – the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union – will address the panel of judges in the large wood-paneled Judiciary Hall.
Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians seek independent statehood in all three areas. Israel considers the West Bank to be disputed territory, and its future should be determined through negotiations.
According to the watchdog group Peace Now, 146 settlements have been built and are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers. The West Bank's settler population has increased by more than 15% in the past five years, according to settlement advocacy groups.
Israel has also annexed East Jerusalem and considers the entire city its capital. Another 200,000 Israelis live in settlements built in East Jerusalem, which Israel considers a suburb of the capital. Palestinian residents in the city face systematic discrimination; This makes it difficult to build new homes or extend existing ones.
The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem, home to Jerusalem's most important holy sites, is not recognized internationally.
This is not the first time the court has been asked to issue an advisory opinion on Israeli policy or declare the occupation illegal.
In 2004, the court said the separation wall Israel built in East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank was “in violation of international law.” It also called on Israel to immediately halt construction. Israel ignored this ruling.
In a 1971 case likely to be brought by Palestinian lawyers, the court issued an advisory opinion saying South Africa's occupation of Namibia was illegal and that South Africa should immediately withdraw from the country.
Also, late last month, the court ordered Israel to do everything it can to prevent death, destruction, and any other acts. act of genocide During the campaign in Gaza. South Africa has accused Israel of genocide, a charge that Israel denies.
Representatives from South Africa are scheduled to speak on Tuesday. The country's ruling African National Congress party has long compared Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank to South Africa's white-controlled apartheid regime, which confined most black people to their “homeland” until it ended in 1994. I've been doing it.
___
Frankel reported from Jerusalem.
___
For more information on AP coverage, please visit: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
