A Palestinian diplomat has instructed the United Nations’ prime court docket that Israel is “starving, killing and displacing” civilians and focusing on assist staff in Gaza.
Israel denies intentionally focusing on civilians and assist workers and didn’t attend the listening to on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) on Monday.
At The Hague, Palestinian ambassador to the Netherlands, Ammar Hijazi, accused Israel of breaching worldwide regulation within the occupied territories.
He mentioned: “Israel is starving, killing and displacing Palestinians while also targeting and blocking humanitarian organisations trying to save their lives.”
Picture:
Ammar Hijazi, proper. Pic: AP
Picture:
A protester outdoors the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice on Monday. Pic: AP
The hearings are centered on a request final yr from the UN Normal Meeting, which requested the court docket to weigh in on Israel’s authorized tasks after the nation blocked the United Nations Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees from working on its territory.
In a decision sponsored by Norway, the Normal Meeting requested an advisory opinion, a non-binding however legally essential determination from the court docket, on Israel’s obligations within the occupied territories to “ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population”.
Picture:
Pic: AP
Forty states and 4 worldwide organisations are scheduled to take part within the ICJ hearings, with it possible taking months for the court docket to rule.
Picture:
Pic: AP
The hearings come amid the close to collapse of the humanitarian assist system in Gaza.
Israel has blocked the entry of meals, gas, drugs and different humanitarian provides since 2 March.
The World Meals Programme mentioned final week its meals shares within the Gaza Strip had run out.
Picture:
Palestinians wait to obtain meals cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahiya. Pic: Reuters
Israel additionally renewed its bombardment on 18 March, breaking a ceasefire, and seized giant elements of the territory, claiming it goals to push Hamas to launch extra hostages.
In a single day into Monday, no less than 27 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes, in response to native well being officers.
An air strike hit a house in Beit Lahia, killing 10 individuals, together with a Palestinian prisoner, Abdel-Fattah Abu Mahadi, who had been launched as a part of the ceasefire.
His spouse, two of their kids and a grandchild had been additionally killed, in response to Indonesia Hospital which acquired the our bodies.
Picture:
An Israeli air strike hit a house in Beit Lahia, killing 10 individuals. Pic: AP
Picture:
Pic: AP
One other strike hit a house in Gaza Metropolis, killing seven individuals, in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry’s emergency service.
And late on Sunday, a strike hit a house within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, killing no less than 10 individuals, together with 5 siblings as younger as four-years-old, in response to the well being ministry.
Two different kids had been killed together with their dad and mom, in response to Nasser Hospital which acquired the our bodies.
There was no fast remark from the Israeli army.
Israel claims it makes each effort to keep away from harming civilians and blames Hamas for his or her deaths as a result of the militants function in densely populated areas.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:05
World Meals Programme shares in Gaza have run out
Israel’s ban on UNRWA got here into impact in January.
The organisation has confronted elevated criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who declare the group is deeply infiltrated by Hamas, which UNRWA refutes.
Amir Weissbrod, a overseas ministry official, introduced Israel’s case in opposition to UNRWA on Monday.
He accused it of failing to behave earlier than the warfare in opposition to proof that Hamas had used its services, together with by digging tunnels beneath them.
The official mentioned UNRWA employed 1,400 Palestinians with militant ties.
Israel claims a few of these workers additionally took half in Hamas’ assaults on 7 October 2023, with no less than three of these workers nonetheless allegedly working for the UN.
The presentation included movies, paperwork and photos of the alleged workers.
The 7 October 2023 assault in southern Israel killed round 1,200 individuals and prompted the continuing Israeli offensive in Gaza – which the territory’s well being ministry says has killed greater than 52,000 individuals.
UNRWA mentioned it fired 9 staffers after an inner UN investigation concluded that they may have been concerned, though the proof was not authenticated and corroborated.
The ban doesn’t apply on to Gaza, however UNRWA is prohibited from working inside Israel which impacts the company’s skill to perform.
Israeli officers declare they’re on the lookout for alternative routes to ship assist to Gaza that might lower out the UN.
