The Hague Court Begins Examination of the Legality of the “Israeli Occupation”

The International Court of Justice, located in The Hague, has embarked on a six-day series of hearings to deliberate on the legality of Israel’s control and authority over the regions of Judea and Samaria. Concurrently, a protest against Israeli policies and control is occurring in the vicinity of the court building. This demonstration has attracted hundreds of individuals who are actively participating and expressing their opposition.

The decision to conduct these hearings was reached in the month of December 2022. The initiative was undertaken by the Palestinian authorities and was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. At the conclusion of these hearings, the court is expected to issue a ruling. It is important to understand that this ruling will be advisory and not binding. This means that it does not carry the same weight as a verdict from the same court. However, should the ruling be unfavorable towards Israel, it could potentially weaken Israel’s standing and influence in the international community.

In discussing this matter, it is crucial to note that international law, while prohibiting annexation, does allow for states to occupy territories under certain conditions. These conditions stipulate that the occupation must be of a temporary nature.

Israel, for its part, does not acknowledge the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in this matter. As a result, it has not sent any representatives to attend the hearings. This stands in contrast to an investigation into allegations of genocide that is being conducted by the same court. In such cases, the court’s jurisdiction is universally recognized and accepted.