GENEVA

Israel continued its "genocide of war" in Gaza that constitutes the "crime of crimes" despite the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declaring Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory "unlawful," Qatar told the ICJ on Thursday.

"The court’s advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 confirmed that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible," said Mutlaq Al-Qahtani, representing Qatar.

"Unfortunately, Israel did not end its occupation. It has continued its genocide of war against the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza."

Al-Qahtani said Israel not only blocked aid distribution but also systematically targeted water infrastructure, food storage, and humanitarian convoys in Gaza, as well as expanded settlements and annexation in the West Bank.

Israeli strikes, he said, have killed both aid workers and civilians receiving assistance, leaving hundreds of thousands facing catastrophic food insecurity.

According to the representative, Israel must not only refrain from obstructing aid under the Fourth Geneva Convention but also actively facilitate the entry and rapid distribution of humanitarian relief while protecting supplies and personnel.

"Starvation is a war crime and a serious violation of international humanitarian law," he added.

Qatar further argued that Israel's actions against UNRWA "bluntly violate" its international obligations.

"Israel has long seen the UN as a thorn in the side of its colonial project," Al-Qahtani said, adding that Israel must cooperate with UNRWA and other international organizations without imposing conditions.

He concluded by calling for Israel to cease its violations, provide full reparations, and offer guarantees of non-repetition in compliance with its obligations under international law.

Since March 2, Israel has closed Gaza's crossings, blocking essential supplies from entering the enclave despite multiple reports of famine in the war-devastated territory.

The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a Jan. 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

More than 52,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.