The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared that Israel’s ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and should end “as rapidly as possible.” President Nawaf Salam announced the nonbinding advisory opinion on Friday, delivered by a 15-judge panel, addressing Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. The court cited various violations of international law, including the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, exploitation of natural resources, annexation of lands, and discriminatory policies against Palestinians.
The ICJ stated that Israel has no sovereignty over these territories and is breaching international laws prohibiting the acquisition of land by force. It also highlighted that Israel’s actions obstruct Palestinians’ right to self-determination. The court urged other nations not to “render aid or assistance” to Israel’s presence and mandated an immediate halt to settlement construction, as well as the dismantling of existing settlements.
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The ICJ criticized Israel’s “abuse of its status as the occupying power,” concluding that the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are established and maintained in violation of international law. The advisory opinion was requested by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022. The ICJ, or World Court, is the highest UN body for resolving disputes between states.
