Egypt exposes Israeli occupation violations to the world in the International Court of Justice.

In a crucial oral pleading session before the International Court of Justice, Egypt strongly defended the rights of the Palestinian people, warning that Israeli practices in the occupied territories constitute a blatant violation of international law, seeking to thwart the right of return and impose a new reality by force. The Egyptian delegation, led by Ambassador Hatem Abdel Qader, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Legal Affairs and Treaties, clarified that the Israeli occupation is not just military control, but includes deliberate policies aimed at expelling Palestinians from their land and depriving them of basic necessities of life. The delegation affirmed that the serious violations committed by Israel contradict the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights, forming part of a broad plan for the de facto annexation of Palestinian territories, supported by Knesset legislation and public statements by Israeli leaders. The pleading focused on the Palestinians' right to self-determination, including their economic, social, and cultural development on their land, rejecting attempts to undermine UNRWA's mandate and dry up its sources of funding. The delegation also pointed out Israel's continued forced eviction operations since October 2023, under the name of "evacuation orders," resulting in the forced displacement of Palestinians to places lacking the most basic living conditions. Egyptian accusations also included Israel's use of the blockade and starvation policy in Gaza as a weapon against civilians, deliberately closing crossings, preventing the entry of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. The delegation stated that the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza resulted in the deaths of over 52,000 civilians, mostly women and children, systematic destruction of infrastructure, and deliberate targeting of humanitarian and medical workers. In conclusion, the delegation called on the court to issue an advisory opinion confirming that the continuation of the Israeli occupation constitutes a violation of international law, obliging Israel to compensate for damages, immediately lift the blockade on Gaza without conditions, facilitate aid entry through all crossings, ensure the immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 2735, and provide a comprehensive relief plan for Palestinian civilians. It also emphasized the need to refrain from obstructing the activities of the United Nations and its agencies, especially in light of the targeting of the Rafah crossing, which has turned from a rescue gateway into a site of bombardment and seizure.