At The Hague, the International Court of Justice has begun historic hearings on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki addressed the World Court earlier today.

Riyad al-Maliki: “Ending Israel’s impunity is a moral, political and legal imperative. Successive Israeli governments have given the Palestinian people only three options: displacement, subjugation or death. These are the choices: ethnic cleansing, apartheid or genocide. … Mr. President, members of the court, the state of Palestine reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rule of international law, which must finally prevail.”

The World Court will hear arguments from at least 52 nations through next Monday. The hearings are in response to a 2022 request from the U.N. General Assembly.

In related news, the ICJ on Friday rejected a request by South Africa to impose emergency measures against Israel’s planned ground offensive in Rafah. The court said no new action was needed as it demanded Israel comply with its January order to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza. The court warned Israel’s intensifying attacks “would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences.”