Palestine’s ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi, has just concluded his oral argument at the International Court of Justice, Al Jazeera reports. Here are some of his main points:
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Israel has not allowed food, water, medicine, medical supplies, or fuel into Gaza for over two months, with the Israeli Supreme Court supporting this policy by rejecting multiple petitions for aid, leading to a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, including deaths by starvation.
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The United Nations secretary-general has described Gaza as a “killing field”. There is no doubt about the court’s jurisdiction to hear this case; the legal questions are valid under international law, and the issue of Palestine is central to the UN’s mandate, as reaffirmed in previous advisory opinions.
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The State of Palestine will present evidence showing how Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) aim at permanent annexation, ethnic cleansing, and violate Palestinians’ fundamental rights and existence.
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Israel is an unlawful occupying power standing trial for genocide, and its prime minister is wanted by the ICC.
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Israel is attempting to destroy the Palestinian people and erase Palestine, including by barring and obstructing humanitarian organisations, thus also violating its obligations under the UN Charter and other instruments of international law.
