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Arab-Israeli conflicts

Israel's Occupation of Palestine Declared Illegal by United Nations and International Court of Justice

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on September 18, 2024, demanding that Israel immediately withdraw from the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) of East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. The resolution follows the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024, which stated that Israel's continued seizure of the OPT is illegal and must be ended immediately. The ICJ's strong language emphasizes that Israel's actions violate fundamental principles of international law and render its presence in the OPT unlawful. The UNGA resolution, submitted by the State of Palestine, was voted in favor by 124 countries and against by 14, with 43 countries abstaining.

Key Takeaways:

  • The United Nations General Assembly has declared Israel's occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) to be illegal, effective immediately.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in July 2024 that Israel's continued seizure of the OPT is illegal and must be ended immediately.
  • The ICJ's ruling stated that Israel's actions violate fundamental principles of international law and render its presence in the OPT unlawful.
  • Israel's occupation of the OPT has caused widespread humanitarian crises, including severe water shortages.
  • Palestinians in Gaza survive on an average of 4.74 liters of water per person per day, while Israelis in illegal settlements consume 247 liters per person per day.
  • The Israeli government has been accused of targeting basic elements of life, such as water, to ensure the annihilation of the Palestinians in the OPT.
  • The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank, citing violations of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
  • The ICJ and UNGA resolutions underscore the illegality of Israel's occupation and annexationist policies.

Statistics:

  • 124 countries voted in favor of the UNGA resolution to end Israel's occupation of the OPT.
  • 14 countries voted against the resolution, including the United States and Israel.
  • 43 countries abstained from the vote.
  • Palestinians in Gaza survive on an average of 4.74 liters of water per person per day.
  • Israelis in illegal settlements consume an average of 247 liters of water per person per day.
  • The daily use of water amongst Palestinians in Gaza has declined by 94 percent since October 2023.
  • 67.6 percent of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed by the Israeli military as of June 2024.

Sources:

  • United Nations General Assembly Resolution, September 18, 2024.
  • International Court of Justice Ruling, July 2024.
  • Military Order 158 (November 1967).
  • Military Order 498 (November 1974).
  • United Nations Security Council Resolutions 446 (March 1979), 478 (August 1980), and 2334 (December 2016).
  • World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for water consumption.

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