Gaza war: 'Israel using aid blockage as weapon of war'

A top Palestinian official told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday that Israel was blocking humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza as a "weapon of war", starting off a week of hearings at the UN's top court.

- Agence France-Presse

THE HAGUE:

Israel is not participating at the ICJ but hit back immediately, dismissing the hearings as "part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation" of the country.

The ICJ is hearing dozens of nations and organisations to draw up a so-called advisory opinion on Israel's humanitarian obligations to Palestinians, more than 50 days into its total blockage on aid entering war-ravaged Gaza.

Beginning for the Palestinians, top official Ammar Hijazi told judges that "all UN-supported bakeries in Gaza have been forced to shut their doors".