Israel shuns ICJ hearings on its humanitarian obligations towards Palestinians

Public hearings started at ICJ to examine Israel’s obligations towards Palestinians in occupied territories

Israel accused the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of “antisemitism” on Monday, saying it will not attend hearings about its obligations to ensure and facilitate urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories. "UN has become a rotten, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic body," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a statement. "At this very moment, the International Court of Justice is beginning deliberations in another shameful proceeding against Israel," he said. Public hearings started on Monday at the ICJ in The Hague to examine Israel’s obligations in connection with its activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israel also faces a genocide case at the World Court for its war on the Gaza Strip, where more than 52,000 people have been killed since October 2023. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.