The UN Apex Court condemns Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, pronouncing it 'unlawful' while calling for a swift withdrawal. The International Court of Justice's (ICJ's) opinion on Israel follows a series of findings it made on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
While the opinion is unbinding, it pulls much weight against Israel’s public opinion, besides grievous implications under international law. Experts claim the ICJ’s counsel may weaken support for Israel.
The ICJ’s Ruling
A 15-judge panel from the top UN court provided their public ruling last Friday, declaring their overwhelming condemnation of Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The territories include East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Here's a summary of the ICJ's 'advisory opinion'.
Eleven judges declared Israel's continued occupation of the OPT as illegal while recommending that the nation is under obligation to withdraw from the territory "as soon as possible." Fourteen judges further held that Israel ought to immediately evacuate all settlers from the OPT and halt all new settlement actions in the region.
Meanwhile, twelve judges voted, calling on international organizations, including the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, to act as 'rapidly as possible' to stop Israel's "unlawful" presence in the OPT. Similarly, twelve judges voted, advising all States to derecognize Israel's presence in the region, withholding any aid or support towards upholding Israel's continued occupation of the territory.
Lastly, fourteen judges declared that Israel should "make reparations" for all damages it caused to legal or natural individuals in the region. A request from the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's violations of the Palestinians' holistic rights birthed the legal proceedings that began on December 30, 2022.
Israel Responds to “One-Sided” ICJ Opinion
Israel's foreign ministry swiftly rejected the ICJ's advisory opinion as fundamentally wrong and 'one-sided.' The ministry maintained that only successful negotiations can help all parties make a unified political statement.
Speaking about the UN Apex court’s opinion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declares: "The Jewish nation cannot be an occupier in its land." Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responds similarly, asserting that the appropriate answer to the UN's opinion is a formal annexation of the West Bank. Smotrich, who lives in a West Bank settlement, says in a social media post on X:
“The answer to The Hague – Sovereignty now”.
Similarly, Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, one of the largest settler councils, said that the advisory opinion was “contrary to the Bible, morality, and international law.”
Besides Palestine, which publicly praised the opinion as "historic," there have been no other formal responses from third parties to the ICJ's report.
Summary
ICJ condemns Israeli occupation of Palestine as illegal and contrary to international law provisions. Top political figures in Israel reject the opinion, calling for successful negotiations amidst calls for a formal annexation of the West Bank. However, it's unclear how other nations and international agencies will uphold the ICJ's verdict.