ANKARA

Israel accused the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of “antisemitism” on Monday, saying it will not attend hearings about its obligations to ensure and facilitate urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.

"UN has become a rotten, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic body," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a statement.

"At this very moment, the International Court of Justice is beginning deliberations in another shameful proceeding against Israel," he said.

Public hearings started on Monday at the ICJ in The Hague to examine Israel’s obligations in connection with its activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

At the hearings, the UN said that no humanitarian aid or commercial goods have been allowed into Gaza since March 2, having "devastating humanitarian consequences" in the enclave.

Israel has closed Gaza’s border crossings to food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid since March 2, triggering a deepening humanitarian disaster, according to reports from government bodies, human rights groups, and international agencies.

In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) passed two laws banning operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Israel and areas under its occupation and prohibiting Israeli authorities from having any contact with the agency. The laws took effect on Jan. 30.

Israel alleges that UNRWA employees were involved in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, a charge vehemently denied by the UN agency.

Established in 1949, UNRWA has served as a critical lifeline for Palestinian refugees, supporting nearly 5.9 million people across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Israeli army resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a Jan. 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Israel has killed more than 52,200 Palestinians in the enclave since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.