On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that the occupied Palestinian territories constitute a “single territorial unit” that must be protected and respected.
The ICJ, based in The Hague, Netherlands, issued a judicial decision regarding the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Palestinian territories.
“The occupied Palestinian territories are not fragmented separate territories, but a single territorial unit,” the ICJ stated.
The court also noted that The Hague regulations have become part of international customary law and are therefore binding on Israel.
“The protection provided by the Human Rights Convention does not cease in the event of armed conflict or occupation,” the ICJ stated.
Furthermore, the ICJ emphasized that Israel’s exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to the obligation to respect the Palestinians’ right to sovereignty.
Addressing forced evictions in East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and the West Bank, the court stated that Israel is violating the Fourth Geneva Convention on the forcible transfer of protected populations.
“Israel’s settlement policy is contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention,” the court decision stated.
The court highlighted that Israel’s policies and practices amount to the annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory and that the extension of Israeli law to the West Bank and East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) is not justified.
The ICJ also concluded that Israel was able to exercise control over the Gaza Strip despite withdrawing military forces in 2005.
Moreover, the ICJ emphasized in its decision that Israel is the occupying power in Gaza.
The court stated that it would examine the legal consequences of Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The ICJ decision also stated that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories in any way.
“Israel must immediately cease all activities related to the construction of new settlements in the Palestinian territory,” the court decision stressed.
