During the ongoing hearings at the International Court of Justice, South Africa presented arguments on Tuesday accusing Israel of perpetuating apartheid against Palestinians and deeming Israel's occupation of territory designated for a Palestinian state as "inherently and fundamentally illegal." The South African ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, emphasized the importance of calling out and halting apartheid practices wherever they occur.

Israel, on the other hand, rejects such claims, labeling them as unfair and biased. The country did not give a statement during the hearings, which coincide with the escalation of conflict in Gaza resulting in the reported death toll exceeding 29,000 Palestinians as stated by Gaza's Health Ministry.

The dispute between Israel and Palestine revolves around territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, including the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians seek these areas for an independent state, while Israel considers the West Bank as disputed territory and insists on negotiating its future.

With over 500,000 Jewish settlers residing in settlements across the West Bank, deemed illegal by the international community, and an additional 3 million Palestinians living in the region, the situation remains complex. Moreover, Israel's annexation of east Jerusalem, claimed as its capital, is not recognized internationally.

South Africa's stance aligned with Palestinian representatives' arguments, highlighting the infringement on Palestinian self-determination due to the prolonged occupation. The International Court of Justice is set to hear from a total of 51 nations and three international organizations and is expected to take months to issue a non-binding advisory opinion on the matter.