Renowned Saudi Imam calls for mercy and peace as Israel continues to pummel Gaza

As Israel continues to pummel Palestinians in Gaza, a Saudi cleric has called on the world to have mercy on others. 

Sheikh Salah Al-Budeir was addressing guests of King Salman during their ten-day visit to the kingdom for a brief pilgrimage this week. 

Sheikh Budeir stressed about the importance of respect for others. 

“Have mercy on others as Islam is a religion of mercy and peace,” he said emphasising on how Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) example should be followed. 

ICJ hearings

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Ziyad bin Maashi Al-Attiyah has affirmed the kingdom’s position during hearings against Israel’s plausible genocide against Palestinians in Gaza to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

“We affirm our position that if this court refrains from hearing this case, this means that the system that protects states will lose its credibility.

“Israel” continues to implement its notorious settlement policies despite the decisions of the Court and the UN Security Council,” said Al-Attiyah

Al-Attiyah said Israel” has no intention of reaching a negotiation process. 

“Israel’s insistence on Jerusalem as its unified capital contradicts the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state. Saudi Arabia emphasizes that violating international law leads to violating people’s dignity and depriving them of their rights

“We ask the court to issue a ruling that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal,” he said. 

Crimes 

Al-Attiyah said the “Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories over five decades led to the most heinous crimes.”

“The current situation in the Gaza Strip is horrific and Israel continues to violate its international duties.”

South Africa on Tuesday before the U.N.’s highest court called Israel’s policies toward Palestinians an “extreme form of apartheid” and argued that its occupation of territory sought for an eventual Palestinian state was “fundamentally illegal.”

Representatives of South Africa opened the second day of hearings at the ICJ, following a request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory, or non-binding, opinion on the occupation in 2022. More than 50 states will present arguments until February 26.

Plausible genocide 

South Africa approached the World Court seeking several orders, including for Israel to immediately suspend its Gaza offensive; to stop forced displacement; to enable humanitarian access to thousands of displaced Palestinians; and to preserve evidence.

In its judgment, the ICJ ordered Israel to take “all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

“The state of Israel shall ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts described in point 1. The State of Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza strip,”  Justice Joan Donoghue, the court’s president said.

Israel has strongly rejected those accusations as it continues to ignore the order by the ICJ after its ruling in January.

Ceasefire

On Tuesday the United States again vetoed a draft UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Israel’s war on Gaza, prompting widespread criticism from rivals and allies alike.

The move was the third US veto of a UNSC resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, and came a day after Washington circulated a resolution that would support a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of all Israeli captives from the Palestinian enclave.

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