ICJ Case on Israel's Occupation of Palestine
➡️ ICJ Ruling on Israel's Illegal Occupation of Palestine
The official hearing was held in February 2024, and after months of deliberations, the result was released by the United Nations top court, the ICJ on July 19, 2024. They ruled the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, banning new settlements, and evacuating those already established, as well as paying reparations for the damages caused. Since 1967, Israel has built roughly 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Settler violence in these occupied territories has worsened significantly since the start of the War on Gaza in October 2023. Attacks are common place and in the last year alone 1,000s of Palestinians have been driven from their homes, not to mention hundreds of violent attacks, and even deaths.
The ICJ ruling is not legally binding, however it carries significant weight internationally. After 57 years of occupation, this is a positive step towards justice for Palestinians. Israeli PM Netanyahu dismissed the ICJ decision as false, claiming that Jewish people cannot be ‘occupiers’ in their own land.
Findings by the court have been sent to the UN General Assembly, who will decide how to proceed, including a potential resolution. Peace advocates and pro-Palestinian supports are hoping this ruling could be a catalyst for peace negotiations and a complete ceasefire.
Author: Rachael Mellor, 22.07.24 licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0
For further reading on the ICJ Case on Israel's Occupation of Palestine see below ⬇️
- The ICJ Wall Advisory Opinion and Israel’s Right of Self-Defence in Relation to the Current Armed Conflict in Gaza - Armed Groups and International Law 13.11.23411135
- Written comments of Belize: The Court need not concern itself with the framework for negotiations. It is not a compelling reason for the Court to decline to answer, or to ans…398653
- Written comments of the State of Palestine: The Court has jurisdiction to deliver the Advisory Opinion, and there are no grounds for declining to exercise such jurisdiction. …398655
- Written comments of Bangladesh: incumbent upon the Court, as the judicial body of the United Nations, to clarify and enunciate the law, when it is asked to do so by the Gener…398654
- Written comments of Algeria: Algeria strongly contends that the practices and policies of Israel not only infringe the many branches of international law, they above all affe…398657
- Written comments of Chile: we ask the Court to render the requested advisory opinion and determine the legal consequences that arise from the cumulative effects of the illega…398656
- Written comments of Guatemala: without questioning the value and usefulness of the opinion the Court may render, Guatemala further insists that the final settlement of the Is…398658
- Press release: Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for Advisory Opin…398652
- Press release: Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for Advisory Opin…398651
- Written statement of the Russian Federation: The Court has jurisdiction to give the advisory opinion requested. There are no compelling reasons for the Court to exercise its …398631
- Written statement of Italy: Calls on the court to use its discretion in rejecting the request for an advisory opinion - ICJ 25.07.23398632
- Written statement of France: the Court must determine its jurisdiction and establish the terms on which it will be able to reply to the questions put by the General Assembly …398637
- Written statement of Czechia: the Czech Republic is convinced that the answers should not be construed as allowing departure from the established legal framework already est…398644
- Written statement of Colombia: Colombia believes that an advisory opinion of the Court in the present case will contribute to distending the law concerning the matters submit…398645
- Written statement of Brazil: Brazil submits that: the Court has and should exercise its advisory jurisdiction; the Palestinian people has the inalienable right to self-determ…398636
- Written statement of Nauru: Nauru submits that the Court may appropriately determine that there is a bilateral arrangement that governs the relations between Israel and Pales…398647
- Written statement of the United States of America: The United States respectfully urges the Court to proceed with caution in weighing its response to the General Assembly’s r…398638
- Written statement of The Gambia: The Court should find that Israel’s occupation must be brought to an end immediately, or at least as rapidly as possible - ICJ 25.07.23398639
- Written statement of South Africa: submitted that the Court should find that the prolonged Israeli belligerent is illegal and an insurmountable barrier to the achievement of …398635
- Written statement of Yemen: Call to that Israel is obligated to reverse its policy of annexation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, remove its illegal settlements and related i…398633
- Written statement of Djibouti: which expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian people and its support for their inalienable rights, as well as its commitment to internati…398648
- Written statement of Cuba: the honorable International Court of Justice should take a unanimous stand, in the clearest and strongest legal terms, in support of International …398642
- Written statement of Bolivia: should consider further measures necessary to put an end to the illegal situation resulting from the illegal expansion of Israeli settlements an…398641
- Written statement of Morocco: Morocco expresses the hope that any Advisory Opinion that the Court may give will promote a constructive peace dynamic, with a view to an applic…398643
- Written statement of Belize: The United Nations, especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, should consider what further action is required to bring Israel’s i…398640
- Written statement of Guatemala: reiterate its full and unqualified trust in its impartiality and fairness. The current proceedings will undoubtedly further cement the trust …398646
- Written statement of Togo: asks the Court to use the discretionary power conferred on it by Article 65, paragraph 1, of its Statute and, on the grounds of judicial propriety,…398649
- Written statement of Senegal: Senegal hopes that the International Court of Justice will render an opinion on the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Isr…398650
- Written statement of the United Arab Emirates: The UAE submits that the Court should provide the advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly and that the Court should …398634
- Written statement of Bangladesh: urges the Court to render an advisory opinion on the questions before the Court, and in doing so, to conclude that Israel’s occupation of the…398583
- Written statement of the State of Israel: Considering the request for an advisory opinion as contrary to the established legal framework governing the Israeli-Palestinian con…398591
- Written statement of Chile: Call the court to take measures to contribute to end the illegal occupation of Palestine territory - ICJ 24.07.23398584
- Written statement of Egypt: Egypt has demonstrated the extent to which it is concerned with the consequences of the unlawful Israeli practices affecting the inalienable right…398595
- Written statement of Guyana: It confirms that Israel has unlawfully annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel has violated the right to self-determination of the Pales…398596
- Written statement of Algeria: In Algeria’s opinion, the consequences of Israel’s policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, fall into various c…398593
- Written statement of the State of Israel: Annexes - ICJ 24.07.23398592
- Written statement of Saudi Arabia: It confirms that The request for an advisory opinion satisfies the conditions of Article 96 of the U.N. Charter and Article 65 of the Court…398597
- Written statement of the State of Palestine: It confirms that The Court has jurisdiction to deliver the Advisory Opinion requested by the General Assembly and there are no gr…398594
- Written statement of Liechtenstein: It confirms that the court has jurisdiction in this case and that there are no “compelling reasons” preventing the court from issuing the …398585
- Written statement of Canada: Call the Court to decline the request of the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion - ICJ 22.07.23398582
- Part II (D): Human rights documentation: 1 - General Assembly - ICJ 22.07.23398586
- Part II (D): Human rights documentation: 2 - Human Rights Council - ICJ 22.07.23398587
- Part II (D): Human rights documentation: 3 - Commission on Human Rights - ICJ 22.07.23398588
- Part II (D): Human rights documentation: 4 - Human rights treaty bodies - ICJ 22.07.23 398589
- Part II (D): Human rights documentation: 5 - Universal periodic review - ICJ 22.07.23 398590
- Introductory Note Part 2 (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations): Materials compiled pursuant to Article 65, Paragraph 2 of the Statute of the Interna…398580
- List of Documents Part 2 (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 22.06.23398581
- Introductory Note (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations): Materials compiled pursuant to Article 65, Paragraph 2 of the Statute of the International …398566
- List of Documents (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398567
- Part I - Material relating to the Request by the General Assembly for an Advisory Opinion of the Court (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ …398568
- Part II (A) 1- Israeli Settlements (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398569
- Part II (A) 2 - Living Conditions of the Palestinian People (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398570
- Part II (A) 3 - Palestinian Children and Women (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398571
- Part II (A) 4 - Permanent Sovereignty over Natural and National Resources (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398572
- Part II (A) 5 - Right to Self-Determination (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398573
- Part II (A) 6 - Question of Palestine (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398574
- Part II (A) 7 - Situation in the Middle East (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398575
- Part II (A) 8 - Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People (documents received from the Secretariat of the Unite…398576
- Part II (A) 9 - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA) (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398577
- Part II (B) - General Assembly Emergency Special Sessions (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398578
- Part II (C) - Security Council (documents received from the Secretariat of the United Nations) - ICJ 31.05.23398579
- The Court authorizes the African Union to participate in the proceedings: Press release - ICJ 13.04.23398565
- The Court authorizes the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to participate in the proceedings: Press release - ICJ 31.03.23398564
- The Court authorizes the League of Arab States to participate in the proceedings: Press release - ICJ 10.03.23398563
- Video: ICJ Day 1 LIVE: Top UN court hearing on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories - Associated Press 19.02.23399410
- Video: World Court holds hearings on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories | Day One - Sky News 19.02.23399509
- ICJ to hold hearings on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories - Al Jazeera 19.02.23400405
- Press release: The General Assembly of the United Nations requests an advisory opinion from the Court in its resolution A/RES/77/247 on “Israeli practices affecting the human…398560
- Request for Advisory Opinion transmitted to the Court pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/247 of 30 December 2022 Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Prac…398559
- ICJ case on Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories - Wikipedia427177
- More and more cases on war and genocide are being litigated at the ICJ: States providing military assistance should take note - Chatham House 09.09.24432480