The International Court of Justice decided to hold public hearings on a request to express an advisory opinion regarding the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The court said, in a statement on its official website, today, Tuesday, that the hearings will open on Monday, February 19, 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

On December 30, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to issue a fatwa on the issues of the legal consequences arising from Israel’s continued violation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and its long-term occupation and colonization of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. And its annexation, including measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and status of the city of Jerusalem, and its adoption of discriminatory legislation and measures in this regard.

The fatwa also concerns how Israel's policies and practices affect the legal status of the occupation and what the legal implications of this status are for all countries and the United Nations.

In an order dated February 3, the court confirmed that “the United Nations and its organizations are member states, and the observer state of Palestine, is able to provide information on the questions submitted to the court for an advisory opinion, and set July 25 as a deadline for submitting written statements on the questions.” 57 written statements were submitted to the Registry within that time limit.

Pursuant to the same order, the Court set October 25 as a time limit within which States and organizations that have submitted written statements can submit written comments on written statements made by other States or organizations, in accordance with Article 66, paragraph 4, of its Charter. After that, the Court authorized, Upon request, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union may participate in the proceedings.