The United Nations’ International Court of Justice is holding hearings regarding the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of territories sought for a Palestinian state. Palestinian representatives are presenting arguments alleging violations of territorial conquest, self-determination rights, and accusations of racial discrimination and apartheid by Israel. Over 50 countries and three international organizations are participating in the hearings, which could take months for the court to issue an opinion. Israel, not scheduled to speak, may justify the occupation on security grounds.
Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war, with Palestinians seeking these areas for an independent state. Settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal by the international community, have over 500,000 Jewish settlers, while around 3 million Palestinians live there. Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. Gaza, under blockade since 2007, faces ongoing conflict and control of its airspace and coastline by Israel.
The International Court of Justice previously ruled against Israel’s separation barrier and ordered measures to prevent death and destruction in Gaza. South Africa’s African National Congress compares Israel’s policies to apartheid, drawing parallels to its own history. Despite legal challenges and international criticism, the situation remains complex and unresolved, with the court’s upcoming opinion carrying significant weight in the ongoing debate.
