Palestinian Overseas Minister Riyad Al-Maliki advised the UN Supreme Court docket on Monday that his folks suffered “colonialism and apartheid” beneath the Israelis, urging the judges to challenge a right away and to order an unconditional finish to the occupation.
“The Palestinians have endured colonialism and apartheid… There are people who find themselves outraged by these phrases. They need to be outraged by the truth we’re struggling,” Al-Maliki advised the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ).
The ICJ is holding hearings all week on the authorized implications of Israel’s occupation since 1967, with 52 international locations, together with the USA and Russia, anticipated to testify.
In his speech on the Peace Palace in The Hague, the place the Worldwide Court docket of Justice resides, the minister urged judges to declare the occupation unlawful and order it to finish “instantly, fully and unconditionally.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied and the Palestinian folks have been denied justice for much too lengthy,” he mentioned.
“It’s time to finish the double requirements which have held our folks captive for much too lengthy.”
– ‘Impassion and passivity’ –
In December 2022, the UN Normal Meeting requested the ICJ for a non-binding ‘opinion’ on the ‘authorized penalties arising from Israel’s insurance policies and practices within the occupied Palestinian territories, together with East Jerusalem’.
Whereas any ruling by the Worldwide Court docket of Justice could be non-binding, it comes amid mounting worldwide authorized stress on Israel over the conflict in Gaza, sparked by the brutal Hamas assaults of October 7.
The hearings are separate from a high-profile case introduced by South Africa alleging Israel is committing genocidal acts in the course of the present Gaza offensive.
Al-Maliki, nonetheless, charged that “the genocide underway in Gaza is the results of a long time of impunity and passivity.”
“Ending Israel’s impunity is an ethical, political and authorized crucial,” he mentioned.
In January, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice dominated in that case that Israel should do every little thing in its energy to stop genocide and permit humanitarian support into Gaza, with out imposing a ceasefire.
On Friday, it rejected South Africa’s bid to impose further measures on Israel however reiterated the necessity to absolutely implement the ruling.
– ‘Lengthy-term occupation’ –
The UN Normal Meeting has requested the Worldwide Court docket of Justice to contemplate two questions.
First, the courtroom ought to study the authorized penalties of what the UN known as “Israel’s continued violation of the Palestinian folks’s proper to self-determination.”
This refers back to the “extended occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967” and “measures aimed toward altering the demographic composition, character and standing of the Holy Metropolis of Jerusalem.”
In June 1967, Israel crushed a few of its Arab neighbors in a six-day conflict, capturing the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt.
Israel then started to settle the 70,000 sq. kilometers (27,000 sq mi) of captured Arab territory. The UN later declared the occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful. Cairo regained Sinai beneath the 1979 peace settlement with Israel.
The Worldwide Court docket of Justice has additionally been requested to look at the influence of what it described as Israel’s “adoption of associated discriminatory laws and measures.”
Second, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice ought to advise on how Israel’s actions “have an effect on the authorized standing of the occupation” and what the results are for the UN and different international locations.
The courtroom will rule on the case “urgently”, in all probability by the top of the yr.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demonstrated exterior the courtroom, waving flags and banners.
“I actually hope that justice will prevail,” organizer Nadia Slimi advised AFP.
“I actually hope that every one the joint efforts to place stress on Israel, to demand extra humane insurance policies, will finally result in some steps to free the Palestinian folks,” the 27-year-old mentioned.
– ‘Despicable’ –
The foundations of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice in disputes between states and its rulings are binding, though it has few means to implement them.
On this case, nonetheless, the recommendation issued might be non-binding, even when many of the recommendation is definitely adopted.
Israel just isn’t collaborating within the hearings and responded angrily to the 2022 UN request, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it “despicable” and “disgraceful.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) mentioned that whereas opinions are non-binding, they “may have vital ethical and authorized authority” and will finally be included into worldwide legislation.
