Hendricks made this statement during the ongoing hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where the court is evaluating Israel's role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid its conflict with Hamas.

Hendricks argued that Israel’s tactics in Gaza, which include cutting off vital supplies and resources to the civilian population, constitute a deliberate strategy of hunger and deprivation, violating international law. He pointed out that Israel cannot engage in collective punishment against the Palestinian population, which it holds under unlawful occupation.

"Israel may not collectively punish the protected Palestinian population which it holds under unlawful occupation," Hendricks added during his address, reinforcing the legal stance that such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The ICJ’s hearings come as the global community scrutinises the worsening situation in Gaza. Hendricks’ statements align with the findings of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, who condemned starvation as a severe violation of human rights in a 2024 report. The report stressed that any state using starvation as a weapon of war fundamentally abandons its human rights obligations.

--ChannelAfrica--