THE HAGUE: Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki informed the UN’s top court on Monday that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is “colonialism and apartheid,” and he urged justices to declare a quick and unconditional end to Israel’s occupation.
“The Palestinians have suffered under apartheid and colonialism… These words have infuriated some people. The reality we are living with should be infuriating them, Al-Maliki said the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
This week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding hearings on the legal ramifications of Israel’s occupation since 1967. A record 52 nations, including the US and Russia, are set to testify.
Israel filed a written contribution on July 24, 2023, urging the court to reject the request for an opinion, although it will not be present at the hearings.
Tel Aviv declares that unless Hamas releases captives, combat will continue during Ramadan.
Speaking before the International Court of Justice’s Peace Palace in The Hague, the minister urged the panel of judges to deem the occupation unlawful and mandate its “immediate, total, and unconditional” cessation. “The Palestinian people have been refused justice for far too long, and justice postponed is justice denied,” he declared.
“It’s time to end the unfair practices that have imprisoned our people for far too long.”
In conclusion, Riyad Mansour, the UN ambassador for Palestine, expressed his desire for a “future where Palestinian children are seen as children, not as an economic threat” while fighting back tears.
A non-binding “advisory opinion” on the “legal consequences arising from the policies and procedures of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” was requested by the UN General Assembly in December 2022.
The ICJ’s ruling on the Gaza War comes amid growing international legal assault on Israel, even though it is non-binding.
The proceedings are unrelated to a well-known case that South Africa filed, in which it is claimed that Israel is carrying out acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip while on an offensive.
An attack during Ramadan is warned about by Israel
Meanwhile, Israel threatened to continue Hamas’ attack throughout the holy month of Ramadan, particularly in the far-southern Rafah region, unless it frees all captives. This warning caused deadly combat to continue in Gaza.
Concern about the plight of the 1.4 million Palestinians people have been driven into Rafah, close to the Egyptian border, and are living in cramped tents and improvised shelters under constant shelling and severe food shortages has grown throughout the world.
Over 100 Palestinians, including women and children, were murdered in overnight strikes and skirmishes in Gaza, increasing the death toll beyond 29,000, according to the health ministry in the region controlled by Hamas. The fighting was concentrated in Khan Yunis, which is located immediately north of Rafah.
According to the lunar calendar, Ramadan begins around March 10. War cabinet member Benny Gantz issued a warning on Sunday, saying that the Israeli army is prepared to advance further into Rafah.
Retired military chief of staff Gantz stated, “The world and Hamas leaders have to understand that if by Ramazan, or those imprisoned are not residence, battles will keep going worldwide including the Rafah area.”
Some Palestinians are now obliged to grind feed for animals into flour due to the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
A Gaza lady declared, “My children are starving; they awake up crying from hunger.” “Where can I buy them food?” Nearly three quarters of Gazans are reportedly drinking tainted water, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which is looking at sharp differences with Israel. The organization has issued a warning, stating that “the speed of degradation in Gaza is unprecedented.”
Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, that has been under siege for more than a week and is reportedly no longer operational, has seen intense fighting within and outside it.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
