The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to hold public hearings on April 28, 2025, at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The case revolves around Israel’s legal responsibilities in the occupied Palestinian Territory.
The case emerged after a request for an advisory opinion was filed with the ICJ. The court received 45 written submissions from various countries and international organizations. These include nations from different regions, such as Chile, Malaysia, Russia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, China, the Netherlands, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, France, the US, and Palestine. Organizations like the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Arab League also contributed.
The African Union was granted additional time to submit its statement due to special circumstances. All submissions were received within the timeframe set by the ICJ president’s order issued on December 23, 2024.
The core issue in the case is Israel’s actions and responsibilities under international law in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The court will assess whether Israel’s policies and practices comply with international humanitarian law and human rights obligations.
The public hearings will allow countries and organizations to present their arguments and provide evidence on the matter. Once the oral proceedings begin, the written statements will be made available to the public as per the ICJ’s rules.
This case has drawn global attention, especially as Israel is also facing separate charges of genocide at the ICJ due to its military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of approximately 50,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction since October 2023.
The ICJ’s decision is expected to have a major impact on the legal and political dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.