It is significant to underline the fact that in its recent judgement, the International Court of Justice, which is the United Nations’ highest judicial body, found that Israel is in breach of international law regarding the occupied Palestinian territories. Although non-legally binding, this advisory opinion has a political implication and is the first ever given by the ICJ concerning the legitimacy of 57 years of occupation.
Israeli presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory remained unlawful, and it is for Israel to put an end to the unlawful occupation as soon as possible. The ICJ also stated that the settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, apart from exploiting natural resources belonging to Palestinians, are unlawful.
The court judgement was immediately dismissed by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called it as “a decision of lies. ” Netanyahu stated that Jewish people are not occupying their own land and further said that it is impossible to debate the lawfulness of Israel‘s settlements.
Nonetheless, the Palestinians applauded the verdict: Hussein Al-Sheikh, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said: “It is a landmark ruling for the rights of the Palestinian people and their sovereign right of self-determination. “
The process that ICJ’s advisory opinion will be adopted with recommendations on how to proceed by the UN GA, which may propose a resolution that could form the legal framework of the future negotiation between Israel and Palestinians.
The court findings come at the time of another case in which South Africa sought the ICJ’s advisory opinion over the Israel regime’s acts of genocide against the Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
In light of the new ruling made by the International Court of Justice, which seems to be one of the most critical of this international court in recent times, the Israel/Palestine conflict is expected to be affected by the doctrines of law that allow occupation and limit the rights of the occupied people in their quest for independence.
