The UN International Court of Justice of the United Nations ruled in the Hague (Netherlands) that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and called for its immediate cessation, as well as stopping settlement construction, issuing an unprecedented and strong condemnation of Israel’s rule in the lands it seized 57 years ago. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly condemned this conclusion, issued by a panel of 15 judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying that these territories are allegedly part of the historical homeland of the Jewish people.

What exactly did the ICJ rule?

Experts note that the ICJ’s harsh condemnation can and should influence international opinion and catalyse steps towards the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state. The judges pointed to a wide range of discriminatory policies, including the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, exploiting the natural resources of the Palestinian territories, the annexation and establishment of permanent control over land and discriminatory policies against the Palestinians themselves. According to international judges, this is all a gross violation of international law and the world community is tasked with urging Israel to comply with basic laws. The court clearly stated that Israel has no right to sovereignty in the Palestinian territories, violates international laws prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force and encroaches on the right of Palestinians to self-determination.

The document states that other countries were obliged not to ‘provide aid or assistance in maintaining’ Israeli presence in the territories. It was in this context that the ICJ clearly pointed out the illegal activities of the West and, above all, the Joe Biden administration, in stuffing Israel with the most modern weapons, pouring in huge sums of money, providing political cover for the criminal activities of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Court stated that Israel should immediately cease settlement construction and that existing settlements should be demolished, according to a summary of the more than 80-page advisory opinion read out by ICJ President Nawaf Salam.

The court’s opinion, requested by the UN General Assembly........

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