The advisory opinion sought in the ICJ on accusations of breaches of international law against “Israel” comes before South Africa’s case at the court.
The Slovenian Foreign Minister declared last week that Slovenia is formally joining proceedings in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking an advisory opinion on Israeli control of, and policies in, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and eastern part of al-Quds, a motion preceding South Africa’s genocide legal claim heard in the court last week.
In December 2022, the UN General Assembly voted to request that the ICJ issue an advisory opinion as to whether Israeli conduct in the territories violated international law. Slovenia’s decision to participate in the motion gives it the ability to submit a written position on the issues raised by the UN General Assembly’s request, thereby making it the first European country to do so.
The mentioned proceedings are going to thoroughly look into the ongoing violations by the Israeli occupation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its ongoing occupation, settlement expansion, and land usurpation in the Palestinian territory occupied since the Nakba, as well as practices in the eastern part of al-Quds and the occupation’s discrimination.
At a press conference following the announcement of the Slovenian’s government decision, the latter’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, stated, “This is a very broad spectrum of alleged violations that have been committed in the region for decades and whose horrific consequences are still visible today.”
Tanja added that Slovenia has consistently called for additional sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, as well as for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian access, and “the early start of a two-state solution peace process.”
For Solvenia to be able to join the proceedings in South Africa’s application to the ICJ charging the occupation with genocide against Palestinians, the court must first decide on whether it has jurisdiction over the matter, and if it does, whether or not to take provisional measures against “Israel”. Hence, according to Fajon, Slovenia will be closely monitoring the proceedings until the court decides.
The first hearing for the case is scheduled to take place on February 19.
Read more: Jordan field hospital in Gaza damaged by Israeli shelling
Source: AlMayadeen
