The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial organ of the UN, holds public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, from Monday 19 to Monday 26 February 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.
The Hague: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will now begin its deliberation after public hearings on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, concluded today.
The Court’s advisory opinion will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course, the ICJ stated.
The Session was held under the presidency of Nawaf Salam, President of the Court. The Court’s role was to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and agencies.
On December 30, 2022, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution to request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, 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. The UN General Assembly also asked how the policies and practices of Israel affected the legal status of the occupation of Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem, and what were the legal consequences that arose for all States and the United Nations from this status.
In a letter dated January 17, 2023, the UN Secretary-General transmitted the request for an advisory opinion to the Court. By letters dated January 19, 2023, the Registrar gave notice of that request to all States entitled to appear before the Court
By an Order dated February 3, 2023, the Court decided “that the United Nations and its Member States, as well as the observer State of Palestine, are considered likely to be able to furnish information on the questions submitted to the Court for an advisory opinion and may do so within the time-limits fixed in th[e] Order”.
The Court fixed July 25, 2023, as the time limit for the presentation of written statements on the questions. Fifty-seven written statements were filed in the Registry within that time limit. By the same Order, the Court fixed October 25, 2023, as the time limit within which States and organizations having presented written statements might submit written comments on the written statements made by other States or organizations. The Court subsequently authorized, at their request, the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union to participate in the proceedings.
During the hearings, the State of Palestine, 49 Member States of the United Nations and three international organizations presented oral statements (in the following order): Palestine, South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Russian Federation, France, The Gambia, Guyana, Hungary, China, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, Zambia, League of Arab States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, African Union, Spain, Fiji and the Maldives.
– global bihari bureau
