Israel’s decision to expand its “military operations” in Gaza and look to seize Gaza City violates international humanitarian law and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, experts have said.

Heidi Matthews, a professor at the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Canada, told Anadolu Agency that Israel’s decision should be halted through diplomatic pressure from third states.

Matthews said an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory made it very clear that the “occupation has become unlawful and must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible”.

“Any plans to take over parts or all of Gaza would be in contravention also of the rule against the violent acquisition of territory as well,” she said. “And obviously, that’s a peremptory norm of international law.

It’s one of the most important foundational norms of the post-World War II international order, that states are not permitted to violently acquire and expand their own territory.“