International Community Urged to Adhere to ICJ's Historic Advisory Opinion on Israeli Occupation

Strategic Insights -

In a critical moment as the UN General Assembly prepares to vote on a resolution seeking to bring an end to the Israeli occupation, more than 30 humanitarian, development, and human rights organizations have come together to call on all governments to adhere to the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) historic advisory opinion. Issued in July, the ICJ opinion concluded that Israel's decades-long occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, violating fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and denying Palestinians their human rights.

The organizations, including ActionAid, Amnesty International, and Oxfam, have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the occupation on the Palestinian population, including the killing and permanent disabilities of civilians, arbitrary detention and prosecution of Palestinians, forced displacement, and a discriminatory permit regime that denies freedom of movement. These practices have taken place without accountability for decades, fueled by the virtually unconditional supply of weapons, parts, and ammunition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ICJ's advisory opinion found that Israel's occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, violating fundamental principles of IHL and denying Palestinians their human rights.
  • The occupation has resulted in the killing and permanent disabilities of Palestinian civilians, including children, and instances of gender-based violence.
  • The Israeli authorities have obstructed and destroyed humanitarian support provided by Member States, making it impossible for humanitarian organizations to fulfill their mandates.
  • More than 40,000 people in Gaza have been killed, and tens of thousands face life-altering injuries and potentially irreversible mental harm as a result of apparent violations of IHL.
  • The situation in the West Bank is deteriorating rapidly, with large-scale Israeli military ground incursions and airstrikes killing and injuring people almost every day.
  • The international community must act decisively to adhere to the ICJ's advisory opinion, including through the immediate halt of the transfer and sale of weapons, parts, and ammunition that risk being used to harm civilians and violate international law.
  • The failure to adhere to the ICJ's advisory opinion will send a message that states can be selective in their application of international law.

Statistics:

  • Over 40,000 people in Gaza have been killed as a result of apparent violations of IHL.
  • Tens of thousands of Palestinians face life-altering injuries and potentially irreversible mental harm.
  • The situation in the West Bank is deteriorating rapidly, with 308 reported casualties in the first 8 months of 2023 alone.
  • Humanitarian organizations have reported that their assistance is regularly obstructed and destroyed by Israeli authorities.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International USA
  • ActionAid
  • Oxfam
  • Over 30 other humanitarian, development, and human rights organizations.