Home Blog ‘Impunity must end’: World reacts to ICJ ruling against Israeli occupation | Israeli-Palestinian conflict news

‘Impunity must end’: World reacts to ICJ ruling against Israeli occupation | Israeli-Palestinian conflict news

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International reactions have been mounting since the United Nations Supreme Court ruled that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was illegal and must end swiftly.

Palestinian officials hailed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling as a “turning point” in their decades-long struggle for justice. Israel quickly condemned Friday’s decision, while its main ally, the United States, criticized it on Saturday after an initial silence.

Although non-binding, the advisory ruling by the 15 judges concluded that Israel has no right to sovereignty over the occupied territory, has violated international law prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force and blocks the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

It also stipulates that countries are required not to “provide aid or assistance to maintain” Israel’s presence in the territory.

Here’s how the world reacted:

Australia

The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it respected the “role of the ICJ in upholding international law and the rules-based order”.

“We want to see concrete steps taken by Israel to halt settlement expansion in response to extremist activity,” the government said in a statement, adding that it was “still carefully reviewing the details” of the decision.

Belgium

Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said in a message posted on social media: “Belgium will always defend respect for international law.”

Brazil

The Foreign Ministry said the decision “reinforces the need for a two-state solution, with an independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which include the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Bolivia

The Foreign Ministry called on the UN and its member states to “take appropriate measures to end the crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and ensure Palestine’s right to self-determination.”

Bolivia severed relations with Israel in the early days of the war and later became the first Latin American country to support a separate genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa at the ICJ.

Egypt

The Foreign Ministry called on Israel to swiftly end the occupation, cease all new settlement activity and evacuate all existing settlements.

The ministry also urged international parties to “respect and implement the ICJ advisory opinion, help the Palestinian people exercise their right to self-determination and work to end the humanitarian suffering they are enduring.”

Iceland

The Foreign Office said the ICJ ruling was “clear”.

“The continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, as are its settlement activities. Iceland calls on Israel to cease all activities that violate international law,” she said.

UNITED STATES

The administration of President Joe Biden, which often emphasizes the “rules-based order,” criticized the decision while acknowledging that Israeli settlements are “incompatible” with international law.

“We are concerned that the breadth of the Court’s opinion will complicate efforts to resolve the conflict and achieve an urgently needed just and lasting peace, with two states living side by side in peace and security,” the US State Department told Reuters news agency.

Indonesia

The Southeast Asian country said the decision “responds to the aspiration of Indonesia and the rest of the international community to deliver justice to the Palestinians.”

“Indonesia calls on the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to respond to the Court’s request by considering appropriate means and necessary measures to end Israel’s illegal presence in Palestine,” the foreign ministry said.

Ireland

Foreign Secretary Michael Martin said he would work with his EU and UN partners “to see how we can now implement this authoritative court opinion to end Israel’s illegal presence” in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Qatar

The Foreign Ministry said the ICJ ruling “reflects the high standards of international law that must be respected.”

He reiterated Qatar’s “firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the moral imperative to support the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.”

Jordan

Foreign Minister Ayman Sadadi said: “Israel’s impunity must end. Its war crimes must stop. Israel must be held accountable for its actions.”

Kuwait

The Gulf country’s foreign ministry called on the international community to fulfill its “legal, political and moral duties to realize the aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state and end the aggression against Gaza.”

Liechtenstein

The European principality’s mission to the UN said the ICJ “places the rule of law at the centre of the settlement of international disputes”.

“We look forward to working with all States on the basis of the decision, in particular to ensure the full implementation of the right to self-determination,” he said on X.

Malaysia

The Southeast Asian country welcomed the “historic decision.”

“Malaysia calls on all states to compel Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling and immediately stop supporting Israel in its continued illegal occupation of Palestine,” he said.

Norway

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described the ICJ’s decision as “crystal clear”.

“Israeli policies and practices must be considered an annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory and constitute a violation of international law,” he wrote on X.

Spain

Madrid said the judgment “includes important statements… on the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and on settlements, among other aspects.”

“The government urges the UN and the international community to take into consideration the findings of the report and adopt appropriate measures in this regard,” he said.

Slovenia

The Foreign Ministry called on Israel to “comply with its duties and obligations under international law,” as stipulated in the ICJ opinion.

South Africa

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said the decision “confirms South Africa’s long-standing position that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory remains illegal under international law.”

“There is now an additional legal obligation on all states to end their complicity in Israel’s illegal actions and to act to ensure compliance with international law,” he said in a statement.

United Kingdom

The newly formed Labour government said it “respected the independence of the ICJ” and was studying the ruling before giving a formal response.

The Foreign Office added that the UK was “firmly opposed to the expansion of illegal settlements and the rise in settler violence”.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, which established formal diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, “welcomed” the decision.

The Foreign Ministry said it “rejects all measures aimed at changing the historical and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory and all practices contrary to resolutions on international legitimacy that threaten further escalation and greater instability in the region and hinder efforts to achieve peace and stability.”

Saudi Arabia

The kingdom welcomed this decision while stressing the “need to take practical and credible measures to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause.”

Türkiye

The Foreign Ministry said the international community “is obliged to take a firm and resolute stance to end Israel’s illegal practices.”



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