ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Syed Haider Shah, on Thursday highlighted the atrocities being committed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), particularly in Gaza, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He was making an oral statement before the ICJ in the public hearing on the request for an advisory opinion on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In his statement, Ambassador Shah highlighted the atrocities being committed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), particularly in Gaza.
He emphasised that Israel’s conduct towards the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reflected one of the most egregious breaches of the privileges and immunities of an international organisation in the history of the UN.
He condemned in the strongest possible terms Israel’s attempt to dismantle the operations of UNRWA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, terming it a blatant violation of international law and part of Israel’s systematic campaign to deny much-needed humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians in dire need.
He underscored the need for providing unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for the imposition of collective punishment through the denial of humanitarian aid to millions of civilians.
Pakistan had already submitted its detailed written statement to the ICJ in the case earlier this year.
The country has always stood by the Palestinians in their just struggle for self-determination, as well as for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The oral proceedings of the case are being held at the ICJ from 28 April to 02 May 2025, in which more than 40 states and organisations are expected to participate.
Israel is not participating in the ICJ but hit back immediately, dismissing the hearings as “part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of the country.
Israel has banned UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil, after accusing some of the agency’s staff of participating in the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack.
Independent investigations say it has not provided evidence for its headline allegation.
UNRWA Secretary-General Philippe Lazzarini urged Israel “as an occupying power” to “provide services or facilitate their delivery — including through UNRWA — to the population it is occupying”.
