The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its ruling on Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, determines that Israel’s policies, including the requisition of land for settlements, violate The Hague Regulations, which are among the founding treaties of international law.

The ICJ notes in its decision on the legality of Israeli rule in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that there is “extensive evidence of Israel providing incentives” for its population to move to the Palestinian territories, and that “Israel regularly legalizes outposts established in defiance of domestic legislation.”

The court further notes today, Friday 19, that the expansion of settlements is based on the confiscation or requisition of large areas of land. “The public property confiscated benefits the civilian population of settlers to the detriment of local population, and the court concludes that Israel’s land policies are not in conformity of 46, 52, and 55 of The Hague regulations.”

According to the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), “The ICJ’s ruling provides a final and unequivocal verdict: the 57-year-long occupation is a crime and contradicts the fundamental principles of international law and justice. We didn’t need the court to prove this – it has been clear for decades that Israel is implementing a regime of vicious military oppression over millions of Palestinians, daily violating their human rights, preventing fundamental civil rights, as well as blocking the Palestinian People’s national right of self-determination. We have been fighting this oppression for years.”

“Nakba 2023”, Israeli occupation soldiers in Gaza (Photo from social networks)

“The last year made the occupation’s crimes even more apparent when, in reaction to the heinous 7th of October attack on Israeli civilians, the Israeli government set out on an unprecedented killing and destruction spree that has taken the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians – the majority of which are innocent civilians.”

“The court’s ruling should be a turning point in how the nations of the world, and especially Israel’s Western allies, deal with Israel and the criminal occupation it enacts. It is impossible to keep on stating support for the two-state solution while backing Israel’s government and its wars. It is untenable to pledge allegiance to the rights of Palestinians while providing weapons that kill them and destroy their cities. The international community must wake up and realize that the Israeli government is criminal and that only decisive and aggressive action against the occupation can turn the tide,” Hadash added.

It is time to end arms shipments to Israel. It is time for a binding United Nations Security Council resolution to end the war of destruction in Gaza. It is time for all nations to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. We call upon the Israeli public to adopt this ruling and understand that Israel must end the occupation. While ‘centrist’ forces such as Gantz’s party align with the right and vote against a Palestinian state, we insist that recognizing the crimes of the occupation is a first step in reaching a just settlement for both peoples. This is in the best interest of Israelis, Palestinians, and all of humanity.”