‘I accuse’: FM Sa’ar blasts ICJ as court starts hearings on alleged Israeli breach of UN charter through UNRWA ban

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply attacked the International Court of Justice on Monday, as the court began hearings of statements by lawyers from over 40 states, who argue that Israel breached the UN charter by banning all cooperation with UNRWA.

A day earlier, Sa’ar had announced that Israel would not take part “in this circus,” and that he would present Israel’s position in a public statement instead.

Sa’ar began his speech by calling UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) “a UN agency plagued by terror and beyond repair.”

“This is yet another attempt to abuse legal procedure for political purposes to persecute the State of Israel. The aim is to deny Israel its most basic right – the right to defend itself,” the minister said.

Last November, Israel notified the United Nations that it is canceling the provisional agreement between the State of Israel and UNRWA, originally signed in 1967, due to the organization’s deep ties and entanglements with Hamas.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, claimed this would “heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory at a critical moment,” and harm the lives and future of Palestinians.

In his speech, Sa’ar charged that instead of Israel, the U.N. and UNRWA should stand on trial.

“No country – democratic or otherwise – has been brought before this court as many times as Israel. And no country suffers from such double standards,” he said, noting that Israel is committed to the rule of law, and has an independent judiciary.

Despite this, Sa’ar pointed to the fact that this is already the fourth case against Israel at the ICJ since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre.

“First, the court was used to spread a blood libel that Israel is committing genocide. Second, an attempt was made to prevent Israel from acquiring the weapons it needs for self-defense. Then, there was an attempt to deny Israel its historical right to its ancient homeland – they ruled that what they call an 'occupation' of our homeland is illegal. And now – the court is being abused to force Israel to cooperate with a body infiltrated by terrorists.”

Sa’ar called the legal campaign against Israel a “well-oiled machine,” blaming it on the Palestinians, “even when other states lead it.”

“The goal is not justice. Israel’s enemies are cynically using international legal institutions as a weapon in an attempt to leave Israel defenseless.”

He also noted that when the ICJ proceedings began, Nawaf Salam, who today is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, was serving as court president.

“While serving as a 'neutral judge' in proceedings against Israel… he referred to Israel as an 'enemy state.' This is the man who was supposed to conduct a fair and just proceeding.”

“Israel will not grant any legitimacy to this circus,” Sa’ar declared. “The focus should be on UNRWA! Under the guise of a UN agency, UNRWA has become an extension of Hamas. It has completely betrayed its duties. UNRWA employed over 1,400 terrorists. Many of them took direct and active part in the massacre and atrocities committed on October 7.”

In January 2024, the Biden administration temporarily suspended financial aid to UNRWA after Israel provided incriminating evidence that several UNRWA employees took part in the Oct. 7. However, much of the international aid to UNRWA was restored after a panel report the following April whitewashed the UNRWA scandal. 

Sa’ar demanded accountability from the UN for its involvement in Hamas’s crimes, including from Secretary-General António Guterres, who he said “knew very well what was going on in UNRWA.”

“He did nothing to prevent the atrocities. He even went out of his way to cover up the involvement. He continues to cover up UNRWA’s crimes and the crimes of its terrorist employees.”

Sa’ar concluded: “I accuse. I accuse UNRWA. I accuse the UN. I accuse the Secretary-General of the UN. I accuse all those who abuse international law and its institutions to deny Israel – the most attacked country in the world – its basic right to defend itself.”

“Truth cannot be buried or silenced. The world must hear and know the real story.”