Palestinian official tells ICJ Israel using aid blockage as ‘weapon of war’

A top Palestinian official told the International Court of Justice on Monday that Israel was blocking humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza as a “weapon of war”, starting off a week of hearings at the UN’s top court.

Israel is not participating at the ICJ but hit back immediately, dismissing the hearings as “part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of the country.

The ICJ is hearing dozens of nations and organisations to draw up a so-called advisory opinion on Israel’s…