Israel’s conduct risks setting dangerous global precedent, Pakistan warns in ICJ hearing
Pakistan has told the ICJ that Israel’s actions against UNRWA represent “one of the most significant” breaches of the UN privileges and immunities.
“If Israel is not stopped, that conduct will become an invitation and a blueprint for governments around the world to use the power of the state to remove international scrutiny,” said Syed Haider Shah, representing Pakistan. “Israel’s behaviour is therefore a threat to the UN operations globally and should be treated as such by the court.”
Today was the fourth day of hearings at the ICJ addressing Israel’s obligations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza and the West Bank.
Qatar tells ICJ that Israel ‘created, perpetrated’ humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
Qatar’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Mutlaq al-Qahtani, told the ICJ that:
- Rather than ending its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel has continued its “genocidal war against the Palestinian people” and increased settlement efforts in the occupied West Bank.
- Palestinians in Gaza continue to face “famine-like conditions” as Israel continues to block “any delivery of life-saving aid”.
- Israel has jeopardised the existence of UNRWA, the “backbone” of humanitarian and development assistance in the occupied territory.
- Israel has “created and perpetrated” a humanitarian disaster in Gaza through acts such as the weaponisation of aid “as a method of war” and the systematic targeting of humanitarian workers.
- Israel “completely reversed” progress on the humanitarian situation in Gaza when it cut off all access to food, water, and humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2, an act of “collective punishment”.
- Israel is destroying “an entire generation of Palestinians” in Gaza.
Israel still engaged in genocidal acts, says Qatari official in ICJ address
It was an emotional delivery. Senior Qatari diplomat Mutlaq al-Qahtani’s voice was breaking at certain points as he spoke at the ICJ.
His delivery was broken down into two main points. The first being that Israel has created and perpetuated a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and his second was about Israel’s campaign against UNRWA and that this is a violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.
He said there’s nothing abstract about Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, it has withheld humanitarian aid as a weapon of war and as a tool of extortion.
