The Qatari envoy as described the genocide in the Gaza Strip as “the crime of crimes.”
Qatar has called on Israel to fulfill its obligations as an illegal occupying power to enable aid into the Gaza Strip, while condemning its blockage of humanitarian assistance.
“Israel is using aid as a tool of extortion to further its military goals,” Mutlaq Al Qahtani, Qatar’s ambassador to the Netherlands, told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday.
“Starvation is once again officially Israel’s policy,” Al Qahtani added.
Al Qahtani’s remarks came as Qatar joined 40 states in oral proceedings before the ICJ in implementation of a request last December by the United Nations General Assembly for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations “in relation to the presence and activities” of the UN and other organisations.
Qatar, which has played a critical mediation role between Hamas and Israel, was among 137 members who voted in favour of the resolution.
While the advisory opinion is non-binding, it could affect countries’ policies against Israel and further demonstrate a waning global reputation given its ongoing occupation of Palestine and violations of Palestinians’ rights.
Qatar’s envoy told the Court that Israel is destroying “an entire generation of Palestinians” by preventing the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and banning the operations of key organisations, most notably the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
“Israel has long seen the UN as a thorn in the side of its colonial project,” he added.
Last October, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed two bills to shut down UNRWA, cutting off a vital lifeline for Palestinians living under the illegal Israeli occupation.
“As an illegal occupier, Israel has no standing to determine whether states or international organisations are given access to Gaza. This is a prerogative of the Palestinian people in accordance with its right to self determination,” Al Qahtani said.
Israel had imposed a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the genocide in October 2023, with crossings opening on a limited basis for medical evacuations and minimal aid entry.
On March 2, Israel barred entry through all of Gaza’s crossings, completely blocking essential aid from entering in violation of the terms of the ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States on January 15.
Israel then renewed its genocide in the Gaza Strip on March 18, ending the ceasefire deal.
“Unfortunately, Israel did not end its occupation. It has continued its genocidal war against the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, which is not only an international crime, but the crime of crimes, which shocks the conscience of mankind,” he said.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 61,700 people in the Gaza Strip, according to a revised figure by the local health ministry. However, the figure is believed to be significantly higher with thousands trapped under the rubble.
On Wednesday, the UN said the Gaza Strip is facing “a renewed risk of hunger and malnutrition” and its local healthcare system “is on the brink of collapse.”
