The Hague, Feb 22, 2024, Ziad bin Maashi Al-Atiyah, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, took to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to deliver Saudi Arabia's oral submission amidst the ongoing public hearings concerning the request for an advisory opinion regarding the legal ramifications of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly East Jerusalem.
In his address, Ambassador Al-Atiyah vehemently condemned the Israeli military aggression directed towards the Gaza Strip and the escalating violence against Palestinians, particularly in East Jerusalem. The Kingdom expressed its strong disapproval of the appalling loss of life, destruction, and displacement of Palestinian civilians resulting from the brutal and unlawful conflict in Gaza.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia firmly rebuked Israel's rationale for perpetrating such atrocities, which have inflicted immense suffering on innocent civilians and rendered the Gaza Strip uninhabitable. The Kingdom stressed that there are no legal impediments preventing the ICJ from adjudicating on matters related to Israeli occupation practices and policies, underscoring the significance of the case for the international community and the United Nations.
The Saudi statement underscored that Israel's actions since 1967 have severely undermined the prospects for establishing a viable Palestinian state. This includes the annexation of significant land, the construction of numerous illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the unlawful annexation of East Jerusalem, and other documented violations of international law.
Emphasizing the ample evidence available to the ICJ regarding Israel's illegal practices, Saudi Arabia urged the court to unequivocally condemn Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. The Kingdom reiterated its call for immediate cessation of the occupation, stressing the importance of global cooperation to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia urged the ICJ to recognize the illegality of Israel's occupation and to consider the legal implications for all nations and the United Nations. The public hearings at the ICJ commenced on February 19 and are slated to continue until February 26, focusing on the request for an advisory opinion concerning Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
