Friday July 19th the International Court of Justice issued a historic Advisory Opinion on the consequences of Israels occupation of Palestine.
The report found that Israel’s occupation of and continued presence in Palestinian territories is unlawful, and that Israel’s is annexing Palestinian lands in breach of international law, including through its settlement policies and extension of its laws into occupied territories.
It further concluded that Israel’s policies and practices in the West Bank and East Jerusalem implement a physical and legal separation between Palestinian communities and between settlers, which amounts to racial segregation and apartheid.
The Court concluded that Israel must cease, immediately, all new settlement activity and to provide reparations in full, including a return of Palestinian land and property, and an evacuation of existing settlements. The Court also reiterated the legal obligations of all other UN member States, not to recognise or support the unlawful situation established by Israel.
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the international community, and its decision today represents the explicit expression of the international’s community’s legal determination and must be respected.
The ‘World Court’s’ decision comes against a backdrop of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and escalating efforts by Israel to annex more Palestinian lands and allow record levels of violence committed by Israeli settlers with impunity.
There can be no just and lasting peace for the people of Israel and Palestine without respect for international law.
DCA calls on Denmark and all UN member states to honour the requests of the ICJ in this regard, and to ensure that international law is fully respected.
