Top UN court to deliver opinion on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas of historic Palestine which the Palestinians want for a state - in the 1967 war and has since built settlements in the West Bank and steadily expanded them

A view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands File Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

The United Nations' highest court is set to issue an advisory opinion Friday on the legal ramifications of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, weighing in on one of the world's most contentious issues at the request of the UN General Assembly.

While advisory opinions of judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are non-binding, they carry weight under international law and a clear finding that the occupation is illegal could weaken support for Israel.