A member of South Africa's legal team before the International Court of Justice said, "His country focuses on the Palestinian rights to self-determination, and the ongoing violations by Israel."

He emphasized in a speech, during the public hearings on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, on Tuesday morning, that the Palestinian people have the right to independence and self-determination.

He pointed out that the United Nations recommended this right to self-determination as a fundamental matter in international law, saying that "Respecting this right is one of the objectives of the United Nations according to Article 1."

He mentioned that the United Nations has recognized the Palestinian right to self-determination and independence in several resolutions issued over the past decades.

He stressed the importance of the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people, especially with the court's confirmation on January 26, 2024, that Palestinians may face the danger of "apartheid."

He stated that Tel Aviv, since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, has occupied part of the West Bank, saying that "settlements are considered a breach of international law."

He pointed out that "Israel has turned temporary settlements into permanent ones," warning that these measures deprive the Palestinian people of their right to self-determination.

He called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing the importance of stopping the ongoing aggression against Gaza.

The International Court of Justice continues today, Tuesday, the public hearings on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

The court had opened the sessions yesterday by listening to the pleadings of the State of Palestine, and the sessions are set to last for 6 days from February 19 to 26, during which it will hear briefings from 52 countries – an unprecedented number in the court's history – in addition to the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League.

The court is scheduled to hear briefings today from 11 countries: South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, the Netherlands, Belize, Canada, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile.