Dhaka, April 29 -- A top Palestinian official told the United Nations top court on Monday that Israel was blocking humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza as a "weapon of war."

Kicking off a week of hearings at the International Court of Justice about Israel's obligations to United Nations aid agencies, Ammar Hijazi told judges: "Starvation is here. Humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war."

The ICJ is holding a week of hearings over Israel's obligations to the UN, including aid agencies, in war-ravaged Gaza before delivering a non-binding "advisory opinion." Dozens of countries and organizations will address the 15-judge panel in a marathon set of hearings.

Israel is not participating in the hearings but its ally the United St...