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ICJ confirms reception of UNGA request for opinion on "Israel"

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jan 2023 16:07
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The ICJ is expected to schedule hearings for advisory opinions, which is likely to take several months to process.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour speaks during a meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee at U.N. headquarters on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed on Saturday it received an official request from the United Nations General Assembly to provide an advisory opinion on the legal implications of "Israel's" occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday it received a confirmation letter from the ICJ Registrar, Philippe Gautier, informing Ramallah that it had "officially received the referral of United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. (247/77) requesting an advisory opinion from ICJ."

It is now expected to select a number of states and organizations to provide written statements on the matter in question. The ICJ is also expected to schedule hearings for advisory opinions, which is likely to take several months to process.

On December 31, 2022, the UNGA filed a request to the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on "Israel's" atrocious apartheid practices, including the “occupation, settlement and annexation” of Palestinian territories.

The move gained the support of 87 member states at the UNGA, with 26 against and 53 abstentions.

It specifically called on the ICJ to review the "legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination," including its policies "aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status" of the holy city of Al-Quds.

The report further called on the UN Secretary-General to prepare a report for the implementation of the resolution in the forthcoming session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023.

"Time has come for "Israel" to be an entity subject to law, and to be held accountable for its ongoing crimes against our people,” Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) frequently launch raids in Palestinian towns under the pretext it is looking for 'wanted' Palestinians'. These illegal raids usually end up in violent clashes with Palestinian locals.

In the past few months, "Israel" has increased its aggression on Palestinians which caused several to be detained and others to be murdered by the IOF, including minors.

The UN estimates that 2022 was the deadliest year ever recorded for Palestinians in the West Bank in the past 16 years.

Last year, the IOF killed 171 Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied East al-Quds last year, including more than 30 children.