The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held a hearing in The Hague on Thursday, where representatives from China, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, and Jordan presented their arguments regarding the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. China's Foreign Ministry's legal adviser, Ma Xinmin, emphasized that "justice has been long delayed, but it must not be denied," highlighting that 57 years have passed since Israel began its occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. China countered the United States' argument that the issue should be bilateral by asserting that self-determination of the Palestinian people is a matter for the United Nations.

Ireland concluded that Israel has committed serious breaches of international law, while Japan advocated for a two-state solution for peaceful coexistence. Jordan emphasized the necessity for the end of the occupation for the Palestinian right to self-determination to be realized, noting its crucial role in criticizing the occupation and safeguarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

The ICJ, hearing from about 50 countries, marked a significant step in Palestinians' efforts to have international legal institutions address Israeli policies. Palestinian representatives at the hearing urged the judges to declare Israel's occupation illegal with the hope that it could facilitate a two-state solution. The occupied West Bank saw heightened tensions between settlers and Palestinians in the aftermath of Israel's actions in Gaza.

Israel, not participating in the hearings, expressed concerns that the court's involvement could impede achieving a negotiated settlement. The representation of diverse viewpoints and legal arguments at the ICJ underscores the complexity and international significance of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.