International Court of Justice: Public Sessions on Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories in 2024

The International Court of Justice announced today, Monday, that it will hold public hearings to allow parties to express their views on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories before ultimately issuing a non-binding legal opinion. The United Nations General Assembly, composed of 193 countries, requested the court's opinion in December regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The court stated that the hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, will open on Monday, February 19, 2024. The request for the so-called advisory opinion was submitted prior to the current escalation in the region, and therefore, the International Court of Justice's opinion will focus solely on the Israeli occupation. This advisory opinion request was issued in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly with a majority of 87 votes. Israel, the United States, and 24 other countries voted against the resolution, while 53 countries abstained from voting.