THE HAGUE: The United Nations top court on Friday declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a non-binding advisory opinion said Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem violates international law.
Decision comes amidst mounting global legal pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza. The UN’s General Assembly had requested the ICJ in late 2022 to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the practices and policies of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
“The court has found that Israel’s continued presence in the Palestinian Territories is illegal,” ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam said Friday, adding: “Israel must end the occupation as rapidly as possible.”
“The Court has found that Israel’s… continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal,” Salam said.
The judge observed that Israel is under the obligation to end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as early as possible.
The ICJ held a week-long session in February to hear submissions from 52 countries after the request — supported by most countries within the assembly.
Most speakers during the hearings have demanded that Israel must end its occupation. However, the United States said Israel must not be obliged to withdraw without taking care of its security requirements.
Speakers also stated that a prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory posed an extreme threat to the stability of the Middle East and beyond. Israel did not attend the hearings.
The case before the court is separate from one filed by South Africa against Israel for alleged genocide during its current war in Gaza.
South Africa has moved the ICJ several times arguing that the extreme humanitarian situation means the court should issue more emergency measures.
In an initial ruling on January 26, the ICJ ordered Israel to take every possible measure to end acts of genocide during its military offensive in Gaza.
Palestinian foreign ministry has hails the ICJ ruling terming it a ‘great day for Palestine’. The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas also welcomed the decision.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed the ruling of the International Court of Justice as “decision of lies”.
