Israel treats Palestinians as 'dispensable objects', Saudi envoy tells ICJ

Ziad Al Atiyah, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the Netherlands, has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, stating that they have severely dehumanised the entire Palestinian population, treating them as "disposable objects" rather than human beings.

During ongoing oral proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday, regarding the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, the envoy said the Middle Eastern country must be held accountable for disregarding international law and for its indefensible actions.

“Israel's actions in laying waste to the Gaza Strip, killing and mining dozens of thousands of innocent civilians, depriving them of water, food, and the basic means of survival, while displacing the entire population are not justified under any circumstances," Ziad said during the proceedings in The Hague.

"Israel has committed the most egregious violations of its fundamental international obligations regarding its treatment of the Palestinians," he added.

He noted that Israel has ignored multiple resolutions condemning its actions from both the UN Security Council and the General Assembly.

These violations, according to Ziad, encompass policies and practices that obstruct the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-defence.

This is the second day of these proceedings at the ICJ. This case is different from the genocide complaint South Africa filed against Israel for alleged violations in the war on Gaza.

On February 10, Saudi Arabia condemned Israel's planned operation in overcrowded Rafah, saying it would cause a "humanitarian catastrophe" and called for UN interventions.

In a Foreign ministry statement, the kingdom "warned of extremely dangerous repercussions of storming and targeting" Rafah and affirmed its "categorical rejection and strong condemnation of their forced deportation".

More than one million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in Gaza's southern city, with many living in tents along the border with Egypt and the sea.

Saudi Arabia insists on Palestinian state recognition and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have never had formal diplomatic relations.