Judith Andersson and Diane Ward have incurred costs of over £60,000 in the court battle over the suitcase, which contains family photographs with “no monetary value”.

The two women are sisters-in-law and part owners of the prestigious American Colony hotel in East Jerusalem.

Mrs Ward is the widow of Ms Andersson’s brother Tim, who had held on to the suitcase since the death of their mother in 1993, The Times reports.

The once-close family have rowed since the mother’s death, culminating in the litigation described by Judge Nigel Gerald as “completely mad”.

Hearings in London have now come to an end and Judge Gerald has reserved his judgment.