This Thursday, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister accused Israel of waging a “war of revenge” in the Gaza Strip, stating that the ceasefire is essential so that humanitarian aid can reach there.
“This time, the war Israel is fighting is different. This time it’s a war of revenge.. First we must put an end to this unilateral aggression and then we must ask for a ceasefire. It is essential,” said Riyad al-Maliki in The Hague, defending the idea that the two-state solution “is more relevant than ever.”
The head of Palestinian diplomacy has been in The Hague since Wednesday, the day on which he delivered the response from the State of Palestine and a second written request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with the necessary procedures to follow up on the request. advisory opinion. of the ICJ on the nature of Israel’s long-standing colonial occupation and the means to combat this illegal system.
In The Hague, al-Maliki, who also met ICJ prosecutor Karim Khan, said he had reaffirmed that the situation in Gaza was dangerous.
“AND The situation in Gaza is so dangerous. that the intervention of the ICJ Prosecutor is urgent,” he added.
Khan’s office had already indicated this month that it is “constantly collecting information” to confirm the investigation into the situation in the Palestinian territories.
The ICJ opened an official investigation in 2021 on the Palestinian Territoriesin particular on alleged crimes committed by Israeli forces, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.
The prosecutor’s office said it “has created a team dedicated to advancing the investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine.”
Created in 2002, the ICJ is the only independent international court investigating crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, refuses to cooperate with the investigation or recognize its jurisdiction.
On Wednesday, in a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), al-Maliki highlighted the importance of the judicial process, especially in these circumstances in which Israel, “the illegal occupying authority, is violating all the rules”. of international law”.
The head of Palestinian diplomacy confirmed that the State of Palestine received the court’s memorandum on the start of the oral and rhetorical hearings, scheduled for February 19, 2024, and that the PNA is ready to appear before the court on the date indicated.
Also in the statement, al-Maliki also called on UN member states to appear before the court and express their intention to present rhetorical arguments before the court, considered the most important international judicial body.
Source: TSF
