Next week, the United Nations’ top court will deliver its opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967. The case, which has seen submissions from 52 countries, will address the prolonged occupation and its implications.
While the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) opinion is non-binding, it comes amid increasing international legal pressure on Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which intensified following the brutal October 7 Hamas attacks.
“A public sitting will take place at the Peace Palace in The Hague on July 19,” stated the ICJ. Judge Nawaf Salam will read out the Advisory Opinion. The ICJ conducted a week-long session in February to hear submissions from various countries, following a United Nations request late last year.
The UN has sought an “advisory opinion” on the “legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.” Most submissions during the hearings demanded that Israel end its occupation, which began after the 1967 six-day Arab-Israeli war. However, the United States argued that Israel’s “very real security needs” must be considered before any withdrawal.
Speakers warned that a prolonged occupation poses an “extreme danger” to Middle Eastern and global stability. Israel did not participate in the oral hearings but submitted a written statement, labeling the court’s questions as “prejudicial” and “tendentious.”
This case is distinct from another brought by South Africa against Israel for alleged genocide during its current offensive in Gaza. South Africa has approached the ICJ multiple times, citing the dire humanitarian situation as a basis for urgent court measures. In an initial ruling on January 26, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza and called for the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 assault.
