ICJ Rules Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Land Illegal, Orders Evacuation of Settlements
The landmark case at the World Court requires Israel to cease all new settlement activities and evacuate all Jewish settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its advisory opinion on 19 July ruling that Israel’s occupation and policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, namely the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, are illegal under interntional law.
ICJ President Nawaf Salam stated: “The sustained abuse of Israel of its position as an occupying power through annexation and an assertion of permanent control over the occupied Palestinian territory and continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful.”
In addition to ruling that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied territories is unlawful, the court stated that Israel is under an obligation to bring its presence there to an end as soon as possible.
The ruling added that Israel must immediately cease all new settlement activities and evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories.
Further, the State of Israel must make reparation for the damage caused to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The court ruled as well that the UN and its member states have an obligation not to recognize Israel’s occupation as legal and must not provide Israel assistance in maintaining the occupation.
Finally, the court ruled that the UN, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, should consider steps to bring Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory to an end as soon as possible.
In its ruling, the court affirmed previous UN resolutions stating that it is illegal under international law to acquire territory by force and change conquered territory by transferring a foreign population within its borders for settlement.
The Israeli army conquered and occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in 1967.
Since that time, Israel has continued its military rule over Palestinians while confiscating occupied Palestinian land to build settlements for Israeli Jews.
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