Israel's Barak quits ICJ panel, citing personal reasons
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FILE PHOTO: Former Israeli Supreme Court President, Aharon Barak, accuses Palestinian Islamist group Hamas of crimes against humanity and calls for the international community to take action during a press conference together with some of the hostage's family in Tel Aviv, Israel November 3, 2023 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo
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JERUSALEM - Aharon Barak, a former president of Israel's Supreme Court, has resigned from his role as ad hoc judge on an International Court of Justice panel weighing a genocide allegation filed over the country's war in Gaza, officials said on Wednesday.
In a resignation letter dated June 4 and republished by Israeli media, the 87-year-old Barak cited unspecified personal and family reasons for his decision.
Under the ICJ's rules, a state that does not have a judge of its nationality already on the bench can choose an ad hoc judge to sit in their case. It was not immediately clear who Israel might appoint to replace Barak.
In a statement thanking Barak for his service at the Hague, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said: "We will continue to stand steadfast against the evil, hypocrisy and libels cast against the State of Israel and IDF (Israel Defence Forces)." REUTERS
