JAKARTA: Indonesia is gearing up for legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to contest Israel’s occupation of Palestine, announced Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Tuesday.
The ICJ will conduct public hearings on February 19 in The Hague, where participating parties will present their perspectives on the legal ramifications of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
The ICJ will subsequently issue a non-binding advisory opinion for the UN General Assembly. The assembly had adopted a resolution in December 2022 before the latest Israeli escalation that left more than 24,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and displaced around 1.9 million.
Marsudi emphasized Indonesia’s support for the General Assembly’s initiative to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law.
She asserted the need to construct a comprehensive legal stance “to highlight Israel’s clear violation of international law against Palestine.”
Marsudi specifically condemned Israel’s actions, including the annexation of Palestinian territories, settlements in the West Bank, and alterations to the status of Jerusalem, deeming them illegal.
During a discussion with international law experts in Jakarta, Marsudi conveyed that the proceedings aimed not only to back Indonesia’s diplomatic efforts but also to reinforce the global adherence to international law and support the Palestinian quest for independence.
Indonesia, a steadfast supporter of Palestine, views Palestinian statehood as mandated by its constitution, which calls for the eradication of colonialism.
The February hearing at the ICJ is separate from the case South Africa launched late last year, which accuses Israel of engaging in “genocidal acts” in Gaza.
While Jakarta has not joined this recent case at The Hague due to not being a party to the Genocide Convention, Marsudi said that Indonesia’s support for South Africa’s efforts to report Israel’s alleged violations of the convention to the ICJ.
Marsudi said that Indonesia’s primary objective is to explore all possible ways to continue supporting the Palestinian struggle.
