UN privileges under threat by Israel in Gaza: Pakistan told ICJ
Israeli PM vows to defeat Hamas once and for all
Pakistan has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel’s actions against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) represent “one of the most significant” breaches of the UN privileges and immunities.
“If Israel is not stopped, that conduct will become an invitation and a blueprint for governments around the world to use the power of the state to remove international scrutiny,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Syed Haider Shah, Al Jazeera reported.
“Israel’s behaviour is therefore a threat to the UN operations globally and should be treated as such by the court.”
Today was the fourth day of hearings at the ICJ addressing Israel’s obligations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza and the West Bank.
Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the main objective of the military campaign in Gaza is not to bring back the captives but to “defeat our enemies”, referring to Hamas, Al Jazeera reports.
“We want to bring back the remaining 59 [captives], but the ultimate goal of the war is the victory over our enemies,” Netanyahu said at an event in Jerusalem.
His comments received backlash from relatives of some of the remaining captives, including a mother named Einav Zangauker, who was quoted by local media as saying: “My goal from this moment on is to remove Netanyahu from power.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of captives held in Gaza, said in a statement that their freedom should be the government’s “top priority”.
