UN Supreme Court docket says Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is prohibited

Norman Ray

International Courant

Judges of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) rule on emergency measures towards Israel following allegations by South Africa that the Israeli navy operation in Gaza constitutes state-led genocide, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 26, 2024.

Piroschka Van De Wouw | Reuters

The United Nations Supreme Court docket dominated Friday that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is prohibited and have to be ended as quickly as potential, the strongest conclusion but from the Supreme Court docket on the Israeli-Palestinian battle.

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The recommendation of the judges of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ), higher generally known as the Worldwide Court docket of Justice, was not binding, nevertheless it carries weight below worldwide regulation and will weaken help for Israel.

“The Israeli settlements within the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem, and the regime that governs them, had been established and maintained in violation of worldwide regulation,” mentioned President Nawaf Salam, studying out the findings of a panel of 15 judges.

In response to the courtroom, Israel’s obligation contains, amongst different issues, paying compensation for damages suffered and “the evacuation of all settlers from the prevailing settlements”.

In a swift response, the Israeli Overseas Ministry dismissed the opinion as “basically unsuitable” and one-sided, reiterating its place {that a} political answer within the area can solely be achieved by means of negotiations.

“The Jewish nation can’t be an occupier of its personal land,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned in an announcement.

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Members of the Israeli safety forces take up positions throughout an Israeli raid on the Nur Shams camp for Palestinian refugees, close to the occupied West Financial institution city of Tulkarm, on January 4, 2024.

Zain Jaafar | AFP | Getty Pictures

The opinion additionally angered settlers within the West Financial institution and politicians corresponding to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose nationalist spiritual occasion is carefully linked to the settler motion and who himself lives in a West Financial institution settlement.

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“The reply to The Hague – Sovereignty now,” he mentioned in a submit on the social media platform X, in an obvious name for formally annexing the West Financial institution.

Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, one of many largest settler councils, mentioned the Worldwide Court docket of Justice’s ruling “contravenes the Bible, morality and worldwide regulation.”

‘No complicity’

The ICJ judgment additionally said that the UN Safety Council, the Basic Meeting and all states have an obligation to not acknowledge the occupation as authorized and to not present “help or help” to take care of Israel’s presence within the occupied territories.

The US is Israel’s largest navy ally and pillar of help.

The Palestinian Overseas Ministry known as the place “historic” and urged states to stick to it.

“No help. No help. No complicity. No cash, no weapons, no commerce…no actions of any variety to help the unlawful occupation of Israel,” Palestinian envoy Riyad al-Maliki mentioned exterior the courtroom in The Hague.

The case stems from a 2022 request for a authorized opinion from the UN Basic Meeting, which predates the conflict in Gaza that began in October.

Israel captured the West Financial institution, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem – areas of historic Palestine that the Palestinians wished as a state – in the course of the 1967 Center East conflict and has constructed and steadily expanded settlements within the West Financial institution ever since.

An Israeli flag flies on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Al Aqsa Mosque advanced and the Jerusalem skyline on April 19, 2024. US media quoted officers as saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes towards arch-rival Iran, whereas Iranian state media reported explosions within the central province of Isfahan on April 19.

Ahmad Gharabli | Afp | Getty Pictures

Israeli leaders declare that the territories aren’t legally occupied as a result of they’re disputed, however the United Nations and a lot of the worldwide group take into account them occupied territory.

In February, greater than 50 states introduced introduced their positions earlier than the courtroom, with Palestinian representatives asking the courtroom to find out that Israel should withdraw from all occupied territories and dismantle unlawful settlements.

Israel didn’t take part within the oral hearings however filed a written assertion informing the courtroom that issuing an advisory opinion can be “detrimental” to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian battle.

Most taking part states requested the courtroom to declare the occupation unlawful, whereas a handful of states, together with Canada and Britain, argued that the courtroom shouldn’t subject an advisory opinion.

The US had requested the courtroom to not order an unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories.

The US place was that the courtroom shouldn’t make a ruling that would hurt negotiations on a two-state answer primarily based on the “land for peace” precept.

In 2004, the ICJ issued an advisory ruling that an Israeli separation barrier round a lot of the West Financial institution was unlawful and that Israeli settlements had been established in violation of worldwide regulation. Israel rejected that ruling.

UN Supreme Court docket says Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is prohibited

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