Ankara: Egypt told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday that Israel remains bound by its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law as long as its occupation of Palestinian territories continues. Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister Hatem Kamaleldin Abdelkader emphasized the role of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations in mitigating the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians, which he attributed to Israel's actions.
According to Anadolu Agency, Abdelkader described the situation in Gaza as dire, accusing Israel of imposing a "brutal siege" on civilians. He labeled this a "vicious assault" on the Gaza Strip and accused Israel of systematically using humanitarian assistance as a weapon. Abdelkader argued that these actions are part of a broader policy aimed at depopulating the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and facilitating their de facto annexation.
Abdelkader further accused Israel of forcibly transferring Palestinians to equally insecure areas and intentionally creating conditions that render Gaza uninhabitable. Joining Egypt's oral submissions, Jasmine Moussa, a legal advisor to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, described Israel's military campaign as an attempt to displace Palestinians and achieve their extermination "under the fog of war."
Moussa highlighted Israel's systematic policies to deprive Palestinians of essential resources, decimate hospitals, and undermine international humanitarian efforts. She condemned the seizure and fragmentation of land under the guise of security, which she argued undermines the two-state solution. Moussa firmly stated that there can be no justification for the prolonged siege and starvation of over 2 million civilians in Gaza.
The ICJ hearings this week aim to assess Israel's legal obligations concerning humanitarian aid provision and the Palestinian right to self-determination, following a UN General Assembly request. Representatives from 40 countries and four international organizations, including Trkiye, Malaysia, South Africa, China, Russia, Spain, Ireland, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, are expected to present oral submissions. Key organizations, including the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League, will also contribute.
Israel, while having submitted written statements, will not provide an oral submission during the hearings. The country is also facing a genocide case at the ICJ for its actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the death of over 52,000 Palestinians and significant destruction since October 2023. Additionally, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.