The United Nations’ top court has opened a landmark genocide case against Myanmar over alleged crimes against its mostly Muslim Rohingya minority.

The Gambia told the International Court of Justice that Myanmar’s military deliberately targeted the Rohingya with the intent to destroy the group.

The case stems from a 2017 military offensive that forced about 750,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, with refugees reporting mass killings, rape, and arson.

This is the first full genocide case heard by the ICJ in more than a decade and could set important legal precedents beyond Myanmar, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Myanmar denies the allegations, arguing its actions were part of a legitimate counterterrorism campaign.