Legal Advisor to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ma Xing-Ming, stated at the International Court of Justice in The Hague that Palestinian armed resistance against Israeli occupation is legitimate and not considered terrorism.
According to the representative of the People's Republic of China, Palestinians have the right to employ any means of struggle for self-determination, and armed resistance targeting occupation, colonialism, and imperialism is not classified as terrorism.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague is currently in its fourth day of hearings on the legality of Israeli control over the Palestinian territories.
In addition to the Chinese representative, officials from Jordan, Iraq, and Iran also presented their perspectives before the court.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of threatening religious freedom by denying Muslims access to the al-Aqsa Mosque and failing to protect Christian clergy from attacks by Israeli extremists.
Meanwhile, the head of the legal department of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Haider Al-Barrak, urged an end to what he termed the "systematic killing machine," accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and deliberate war crimes.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Reza Najafi expressed confidence that Zionism should be condemned as a colonial project that led to the expulsion of indigenous people from their land.
The hearings were initiated in December 2022 on the Palestinian initiative by the UN General Assembly. Upon conclusion, the court will issue an advisory decision, which, unlike its verdicts, is not legally binding.
Nonetheless, a negative decision from the judges could weaken Israel's standing in the international community.
It's worth noting that while international law prohibits annexation, it recognizes the right of states to occupy territories, provided that the occupation is temporary.
Israel, however, does not recognize the court's jurisdiction and opted not to send representatives to the hearing. This contrasts with investigations into allegations of genocide, where the court's jurisdiction is considered universal.
