"Palestinian Diplomat Urges UN Court to Declare Israeli Occupation Illegal Amid ICJ Hearing"

The Palestinian foreign minister has urged the United Nations' top court to declare Israel's occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state as illegal and to end it immediately and unconditionally, citing apartheid and colonialism. The historic hearings at the International Court of Justice come amid the Israel-Hamas war and focus on Israel's control over the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and annexed east Jerusalem. The Palestinians argue that Israel's annexation of occupied land violates international law and the right to self-determination, while Israel justifies the occupation on security grounds.