Bangladesh to participate today in ICJ hearing on Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

The United Nations' top court on Monday opens a week of hearings on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, with more than 50 states due to address the judges.

Among countries scheduled to participate in the hearings are the United States - Israel's strongest supporter, China, Russia, South Africa and Egypt. Israel will not, although it has sent written observations.

11 countries including Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, South Africa will participate in the hearing on Tuesday. The hearing began yesterday Monday at the high court of the United Nations located in The Hague, Netherlands. 52 countries and 3 organizations including Bangladesh will present arguments in the hearing. The hearing will continue till February 26.

In 2022, the UN General Assembly asked the court for an advisory or non-binding opinion on the occupation.

While Israel has ignored such opinions in the past, it could pile on political pressure over its ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed about 29,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, since October 7.

The hearings are part of a Palestinian push to get international legal institutions to examine Israel's conduct, which has become more urgent since an October 7 retaliation campaign by Hamas in Israel, which killed 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies, and Israel's military response.

They also come amid mounting concerns about an Israeli ground offensive against the Gaza city of Rafah, a last refuge for more than a million Palestinians after they fled to the south of the enclave to avoid Israeli assaults.