Israel must end its occupation for Palestine as soon as possible, ICJ

CAIRO – 19 July 2024: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed, Friday, that the Israeli occupation authorities cannot displace the Palestinian population of the occupied territories or resettle some of its citizens.

The court affirmed that the continued occupation of Palestinian lands for a long period of time does not change their legal status, adding that Israel’s practices after its occupation of Palestinian lands in 1967 violated the right to self-determination

ICJ ruled that Israel must end its occupation of the Palestinian territories as soon as possible, stressing that the court considers that the occupation cannot continue to prevent the Palestinian people from self-determination.

The court added that it believes the occupation’s treatment of Palestinians in a different way could be considered ‘racial discrimination’.

The International Court of Justice confirmed that transferring settlers to the West Bank or East Jerusalem contradicts Article 49 of the Geneva Convention.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry praises ICJ’s ruling, says “it’s a great day for Palestine”.

The Palestinian Presidency warmly welcomed the ruling issued on Friday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest international judicial body, regarding the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands since 1967.

In a statement carried by WAFA news agency, the Presidency declared the ICJ's ruling as a triumph for justice, affirming the Israeli occupation is illegal.

The ruling calls for Israel to cease its occupation, immediately end its presence in Palestinian territories, halt all settlement activities, evacuate settlers, and compensate for material and moral losses inflicted on individuals in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Presidency urged the international community to compel Israel, the occupying power, to fully and immediately end its occupation and colonial project without conditions or exceptions.

The Presidency viewed the ICJ decision as a reaffirmation of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, their land, and their statehood.

It added that the ruling underscores the rejection of Israeli occupation, the recent Israeli Knesset decisions, and US policies supporting the Israeli occupation and rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"Amidst the ongoing Israeli aggression and genocide against our people in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, the ICJ ruling renews hope among our people for a future free from colonization, on the path to achieving their absolute and non-negotiable right to self-determination and liberation", the Presidency said.