Illustration: Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday will give its opinion regarding the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) 2022 request concerning the “legal significance of the ongoing Israeli occupation” in the West Bank, also known as biblical Judea and Samaria.
“A public sitting will take place at the Peace Palace in The Hague (on July 19), the seat of the Court, during which Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the Court, will read out the Advisory Opinion,” the ICJ said.
The court’s “advisory opinion,” which doesn’t have immediate political consequences, will answer the request for “the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” according to the ICJ.
Among other issues, the ICJ examined Israel’s “occupation, settlement and annexation … including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the UNGA resolution at the time, saying “The Jewish people are not occupying its land and is not occupying its eternal capital, Jerusalem. No UN resolution can distort this historical truth.”
In 2022, UNGA voted 98-17 in favor of the motion brought forward by Nicaragua at the Palestinian Authority’s request.
In February, the ICJ conducted hearings during which a record 52 countries presented arguments. Israel did not take part in the hearings, instead submitting a written response to the questions, calling them “prejudicial” and “tendentious.”
Israel’s Government Press Office (GPO) stated: “Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the proceedings of the international court in The Hague regarding ‘the legality of the occupation’ – which are an effort designed to infringe on Israel’s right to defend itself against existential threats.”
“The proceedings in The Hague are part of the Palestinian attempt to dictate the results of the diplomatic settlement without negotiations. We will continue to reject this; the Government and the Knesset are united in rejecting this unacceptable course of action.”
The ICJ is currently hearing another case launched by South Africa, accusing Israel of “genocide” in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Last month, Spain requested to join South Africa’s case at the ICJ, one week after formally recognizing a Palestine state.
Spain became the second European nation after Ireland to apply to join the “genocide” case against Israel. Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya and the Palestinian Authority are still waiting for the ICJ’s approval.
In an interim ruling in May, the ICJ ordered Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza if they risk causing the “physical destruction in whole or in part” of Gaza’s civilian population.
