Egypt has announced that it will participate in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings and present oral argument on Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territories on February 21, Egypt’s State Information Service Head, Diaa Rashwan stated in a press release on Sunday.
As Israel’s deadly war on Hamas enters its fifth month, a staggering 52 countries have announced their intention to present their legal arguments before the UN court during six days of hearing scheduled from Feb. 19 to 26.
Outlining the scope of Egypt’s argument, Rashwan said, “The oral argument includes affirming the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion . . . [on a] matter [that] concerns the violation of international law and legitimate [UN] resolutions.”
A memorandum presented by Egypt to the court asserts, according to Rashwan who described its contents, that Israel’s 75-year occupation is illegitimate and violates international humanitarian law. Specifically, Israel’s “policies of annexation of territory, demolition of homes, expulsion, displacement, and deportation of Palestinians” all violate international law principles, especially the right to self-determination.
Egypt also affirms its longstanding rejection of Israeli policies of “persecution and racial discrimination” in addition to other practices that “flagrantly violate the principles of international humanitarian law.”
The Egyptian official urged the court to acknowledge Israel’s culpability for unlawful conduct and urged Israel’s swift removal from occupied Palestinian lands, including east Jerusalem, as well as compensation for Palestinians’ damages.
He further appealed to the international community, stating, that the memo “calls on all countries and the international community not to recognize any legal effect of Israeli actions and to refrain from providing support to Israel, and for international organizations and the United Nations to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.”
The hearings at the ICJ are being held in a case dating back to December 2022, when the UN General Assembly petitioned the court to issue a legal opinion on the legitimacy of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
The hearings follow closely on the case filed before the ICJ in December 2023, by South Africa, which in an 80-page petition charged Israel with “genocidal intent” in its crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. Other countries such as Turkey and Malaysia supported the petition.
Just weeks ago in an unprecedented opinion issued Jan. 26 following oral argument, the ICJ directed Israel to “take all necessary steps” to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for a halt to Israel’s military action.
Responding to South Africa’s request for emergency measures (not its demand for a ceasefire or its claims of genocidal intent), the court, in its verdict, urged Israel to minimize the death and destruction caused by its army, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and ensure the distribution of humanitarian aid in the territory.
Experts have said that Israel has done little or nothing so far to comply with those directives.
UN special rapporteur on the occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, said earlier this month that Israel “appears to be in breach” of the ICJ’s orders requiring it to take immediate steps to protect Palestinians’ rights and cease all activities that could constitute genocide.
The Israeli government has until 23 February to report to the ICJ on what it has done to comply with six orders the court issued.
The Health Ministry of Gaza reported on Monday a new toll of 29,092 Palestinians dead and 69,028 wounded since the beginning of the Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7.