The Hague, Netherlands, February 19 (Prensa Latina) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today began reviewing the legality of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories. The United Nations General Assembly had mandated the Court to review the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The six-day hearings will also analyze the consequences of the occupation in a trial that is separate from the case brought by South Africa, which accuses Tel Aviv of committing genocide during its current offensive in Gaza.
However, the United Nations' top court is expected to analyze evidence presented by fifty countries and several organizations this week as pressure mounts to halt military operations in the enclave in response to the September 7 Hamas attacks.
The General Assembly's request includes consideration of the legal consequences of “Israel's ongoing violation of the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people” as well as the “ongoing occupation, settlement and annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.”
At the same time, the ICJ will examine measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, as well as the consequences of Israel's adoption of corresponding discriminatory laws and measures.
The court must also consider how Israel's actions affect the legal status of the occupation and the consequences for the United Nations and other countries.
Although the petition calls for an urgent Supreme Court decision on the matter, the ruling could take months.
The Palestinian representation began its presentation this Monday and subsequently 51 countries and three international organizations will intervene in the case.
The Palestinian legal team assured the international panel of judges that by annexing large parts of the occupied land, Israel had violated the ban on territorial conquest and the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
In this sense, they also claimed that the occupying nation had introduced a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.
mem/ebr