A Palestinian envoy told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel used humanitarian assistance as a “weapon of war” as Israel faces humanitarian catastrophe due to months of blockade due to Israeli blockade.
“These are true. Hunger is here. Humanitarian aid is used as a weapon in war,” Palestinian ambassador for Dutch Ammar Hijazi told The Hague on Monday.
“Israel is trying to target and block humanitarian organisations and save lives while starving, killing and banishing Palestinians,” he added.
The Palestinian envoy made his remarks as they began hearings based on requests from the UN General Assembly to measure Israel’s responsibility for the humanitarian crisis.
Hijaji said Israel does not allow humanitarian supplies and fuels to Gaza, and the Israeli Supreme Court upheld the blockade by denialing multiple petitions for aid, leading to an artificial humanitarian catastrophe, including deaths from hunger.
Ireland’s lawyer Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, the ICJ’s Palestinian representative, said “Israel’s actions are not only inhumane, but also genocide, as concluded by the UN Commission on Inquiry and widely agreed by the human rights community.”
“Israel continues to block non-obligatory investigators from Gaza by destroying and burying evidence of crime.”
The hearing, which runs throughout the week, will see 38 countries, including the US, China, France, Russia and Saudi Arabia, with 15 judges considering considering compliance with Israel’s actions with international law.
The Arab League, Islamic Cooperative Organizations and the African Union will also present discussions about Israel’s obligation to ensure the provision of aid to Gaza.
The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is tasked with providing advisory opinions by the United Nations “with the utmost urgency, based on priorities.”
The ruling is not binding, but it will put pressure on Israel as the international courts’ growing list opposes its actions.
Israel launched a genocide war in Gaza, imposing a full siege on the strip after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023 in retaliation for intensifying atrocities against the Palestinians.
Last January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas given the regime’s failure to achieve its objectives, such as “exclusion” of Palestinian resistance and the release of prisoners of war.
But Israel cut food, medical supplies and other aid to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip on March 2, breaking a two-month ceasefire and a captive exchange agreement for prisoners.
A total of 52,314 Palestinians have been killed, with 117,792 injured since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
(Source: Press TV)