Egypt Daily News – Yasmine Moussa, Egypt’s representative at the International Court of Justice, stated that Israel must respect the work of UN organizations in the occupied territories, given its status as a member of the United Nations.
In an interview, she said that Egypt’s oral arguments before the ICJ last Monday addressed Israel’s obligations toward the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
She explained that Egypt’s statement emphasized the need for Israel to stop obstructing the work of UNRWA and other international organizations in the occupied territories. It also called for Israel to cease enacting laws aimed at undermining UNRWA’s humanitarian role.
Moussa affirmed that Egypt has a historic and supportive role in the Palestinian cause. She noted that Egypt has participated in three advisory opinions before the ICJ concerning Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and has used various mechanisms to confront Israeli aggression against Palestinians and to work toward halting the war on Gaza.
When asked about the expected date for the ICJ’s advisory opinion, she mentioned that the UN General Assembly has requested the court to issue its opinion urgently.
She expects the advisory opinion to be issued within a few months, stressing that the international community and the United Nations must assume their responsibility and insist on the implementation of decisions that call for the protection of the Palestinian people.
She emphasized the importance of implementing UN resolutions and Security Council decisions calling for a ceasefire, lifting the blockade on Gaza, ending the targeting of civilians and humanitarian and medical workers, ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid, alleviating the suffering of civilians, and halting starvation policies.
Finally, Egypt’s representative at the ICJ pointed out that “the international community lacks the political will to compel Israel to comply with international humanitarian law.”
