The UN's top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has begun hearings for an opinion on Israel's legal duty to allow aid to Palestinians and to cooperate with the UN's Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA—both of which Israel has barred in Gaza.
Israel stopped allowing aid into Gaza on March 2, which it said was to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. The UN and aid agencies say food and supplies are running out in Gaza, which Israel denies.
Last year Israel severed ties with UNRWA, accusing it of colluding with Hamas.
The hearings at The Hague are expected to last for five days, though a ruling could take many months.
Ammar Hijazi, the Palestinian ambassador to International Organizations in The Hague, opened the hearings with a disturbing and graphic testimony.
He accused Israel of a "genocidal campaign" against the Palestinians, adding that Israel's "crimes" put Palestinians at risk of irreparable harm.
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