A Palestinian diplomat has told the United Nations’ top court that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and targeting aid workers in Gaza in a case that Israel criticized as part of its “systematic persecution and delegitimization.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the ICJ proceedings a "circus" and an attempt to "politicise" legal mechanisms to "persecute Israel”. In its written submission, Israel reiterated its position that UNRWA’s alleged Hamas infiltration justifies severing cooperation, even at the cost of aid access.

The International Court of Justice hears arguments on Israel's ban on a UN body delivering aid to Gaza. Representatives from the UN will begin the five-day hearing