Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held a press conference in Jerusalem on Monday, addressing the hearing that began earlier in the day at the International Court of Justice regarding Israel’s obligations to facilitate aid to the Gaza Strip via international organizations, including the UN and UNWRA.

Israel is facing claims that it violated international law by refusing to allow aid into the Gaza Strip until Hamas returns all the hostages. After Israel passed a series of laws last year banning the UNWRA from the country, the UN General Assembly requested that the ICJ issue an “advisory opinion” on Israel’s obligations regarding aid. Legal representatives of over 40 countries and international organizations are scheduled to argue against Israel before a full panel of 15 judges at a week of hearings.

Although Israel is the focus of discussions, no Israeli representative will present its position at the hearing. Sa’ar convened a press conference for the foreign media to explain the reasons for this decision. Photos of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini were displayed on the stage next to the headline “J’Accuse” [“I Accuse”] – a reference to the famous letter written by the French writer Émile Zola following the Dreyfus affair in 1898.

“At this very moment, the International Court of Justice is beginning deliberations in another shameful proceeding against Israel,” Sa’ar began.

“This time, its ‘advisory opinion’  is sought regarding the matter of UNRWA, an organization infiltrated beyond repair by terrorism. Israel decided not to take part in this circus.”

“It is another attempt to politicize and abuse the legal process to persecute Israel. The goal is to deprive Israel of its most basic right to defend itself. It is not Israel that should be on trial,” Sa’ar asserted: “It is the UN and UNRWA.”

“The UN has become a rotten, anti-Israel, and antisemitic body. Clear evidence shows that under the UN and its Secretary-General, UNRWA employed terrorists who took an active part in the October 7th massacre. He then covered it up.”

“This case is part of a systematic persecution and delegitimization of Israel. It is abusing the international legal system and politicizes it. No country—democracy or non-democracy—has been brought before the court as much, and as often, as Israel. No country is subject to such double standards.

“Israel is a democratic country with a strong commitment to the rule of law, including international law. It has an independent judiciary and a robust military justice system. Its Attorney General is a participant in security cabinet meetings. Yet this is the fourth proceeding relating to Israel in the Court since the October 7th massacre!”

“First, they used the court to spread the blood libel against Israel – that Israel is committing genocide. Second, they used the court to try to prevent Israel from obtaining the arms it needs to defend itself. Third, they tried to deny Israel’s historic right to its ancient land. They tried to determine that what they call an ‘occupation’ in our homeland is illegal. And now, they are abusing the court, once again, to try and force Israel to cooperate with an organization that is infested with Hamas terrorists.”

“And it won’t happen! What do these have in common? An attempt to deny Israel its basic rights. Rights that every sovereign country has. Above all, the right to defend itself. On top of that, add the ICC’s outrageous arrest warrants against Israel’s democratically elected Prime Minister and former Minister of Defense.”

“The appeal decision last week proved that those baseless warrants were issued hastily. The court has no jurisdiction over Israel. Israel is not a member of the ICC or party to the Rome Statute. The warrants were issued unlawfully. They are null and void. The legal campaign against Israel is a well-oiled machine. It’s a Palestinian campaign—even when other countries are on its cover.”

“When this proceeding was initiated, the current Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nawaf Salam, served as President of this Court. While ‘neutrally’ judging in a case against Israel, just moments before casting off his judicial robes, he called Israel an enemy state. This is the person meant to administer a fair and just trial. You can’t make this stuff up! Shouldn’t a judge with a bias recuse himself?”

“The case being heard in the Hague this week is fundamentally distorted. It should be against UNRWA! Under the disguise of a UN agency, UNRWA is a Hamas proxy. It completely betrayed its mandate. UNRWA employed over 1,400 known terrorists. Many of them took an active part in the October 7th atrocities.”

“Just one example — Muhammad Abu Ittiwi was a UNRWA worker and Hamas terrorist. He was caught on video participating in the murder and kidnapping of Israelis near Kibbutz Reim, including Hirsh Goldberg-Polin, H’yd, that was kidnapped and afterwards murdered by Hamas.”

“The UN must answer for these crimes. Secretary-General Guterres is personally accountable. He knew what was going on in UNRWA. He knew very well. And he knows very well. Israel repeatedly warned him. He did nothing. He went out of his way to whitewash UNRWA. He continues to cover up the crimes of UNRWA and its terrorist employees.”

“Israel, through legislation passed last year in the Knesset by broad consensus, made a clear decision: it will no longer cooperate with this shameful organization.”

“Last week, the U.S. administration took a clear stance. It clarified that UNRWA and its staff cannot hide behind UN immunity. We fully endorse this determination. They must be held accountable for their crimes.”

“Israel refuses to sit on the bench of the accused in the UN’s politicized circus. No country in this position would.”

“It is the UN and UNRWA that should be on trial today, not Israel.”

“I accuse,” Sa’ar said: “I accuse UNRWA. I accuse the UN. I accuse the Secretary-General.  I accuse all those who weaponize international law and its institutions in order to deprive the most attacked country in the world — Israel — of its most basic right to defend itself.”

“We will not let the truth go untold. The world must hear and know the real story.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)