Five new ICJ judges elected as Israel cites 'institutional bias'
Israel’s UN envoy flagged past statements by two of the newly elected judges, including one who accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in late 2023.
By Daniela Ortega ·
The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council elected five new judges to the International Court of Justice on Tuesday. The appointments will shape the legal landscape at The Hague, where the court handles major disputes involving state sovereignty and international law.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, expressed concern regarding the impartiality of the new bench. On Wednesday, Danon posted on X that electing judges with prior positions against Israel raises serious doubts about the court’s neutrality. He described the selection process as reflecting an institutional bias.
The five individuals elected are Dapo Akande of the United Kingdom, Francois Alabrune of France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan, Rena Lee of Singapore, and Phoebe Okowa of Kenya. These judges will serve nine-year terms beginning in 2027 and ending in 2036. The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges, with five seats up for election every three years.
Two of the new appointees, Hmoud and Okowa, are currently serving on the bench. They were appointed in 2025 to fill vacant positions. Their new elections secure their full terms on the court.
Danon specifically cited Hmoud’s remarks made during a UN Security Council session on October 30, 2023. At that time, Hmoud accused Israel of committing ethnic cleansing and war crimes during its initial military response to the Hamas attack. Danon noted that these comments were made just weeks after the October 7, 2023, invasion.
The ambassador also stated that another newly elected judge served as a legal adviser in legal proceedings against Israel. Danon did not name the specific judge in his initial post, nor did he provide supporting evidence. However, records show that Akande and Okowa have previously served as legal advisers in ICJ cases regarding Israel’s policies in the West Bank.
The court is currently deliberating a case brought by South Africa. The African nation alleges that Israel’s offensive in Gaza breached the 1948 Genocide Convention. Israel has rejected the genocide accusation, stating that Hamas fighters operate from densely populated areas. The ICJ also issued a nonbinding ruling in 2024 declaring Israel’s control of territory occupied since 1967 to be illegal.
Proceedings at the International Court of Justice typically span several years. The new judges will join the existing bench as these long-running cases continue to unfold.
