International reaction has been evident since the ruling by the United Nations’ top court that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal and must be quickly brought to an end.
Palestinian authorities hailed the International Court of Justice ruling as a “decisive moment” in their decades-long fight for justice. Israel quickly condemned Friday’s decision, while its main ally, the United States, criticized the decision on Saturday after initial silence.
Although not binding, the advisory decision by the 15 judges concluded that Israel has no right to sovereignty over occupied territory, has violated international laws against acquiring territory by force and is blocking Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
It further determined that countries are obliged not to “provide aid or assistance to maintain” Israel’s presence in the territory.
See how the world reacted:
Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government has said it respects the ICJ’s “role in upholding international law and the rules-based order”.
“We want Israel to take concrete steps to cease settlement expansion to respond to extremist activities,” the government said in a statement, adding that it was still “carefully considering the details” of the decision.
Belgium
Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said in a social media post: “Belgium will always defend respect for international law.”
The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory does not comply with international law and that settlement activity must cease.
Belgium will always defend respect for international law.
– Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) July 19, 2024
Brazil
The Foreign Ministry said the decision “reinforces the need for a two-state solution, with an independent and viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which include the Strip Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Bolivia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the UN and its member states to “take appropriate measures to prevent crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and guarantee Palestine’s right to self-determination.”
Bolivia cut ties with Israel in the early days of the war and later became the first Latin American country to support a separate genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa at the ICJ.
Egypt
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Israel to quickly end the occupation, suspend any new settlement activities and evacuate all existing settlements.
The ministry also urged international parties “to respect and implement the ICJ advisory opinion, to help the Palestinian people exercise their right to self-determination and to work to end the humanitarian suffering they endure.”
Iceland
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ICJ decision was “clear”.
“The continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, as are its colonization activities. Iceland calls on Israel to cease all activities that violate international law,” she said.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion is clear. The continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, as are its colonization activities. Iceland calls on Israel to cease all activities that violate international law.
— MFA Iceland (@MFAIceland) July 20, 2024
U.S
President Joe Biden’s administration, which often emphasizes the “rules-based order,” criticized the decision despite acknowledging that Israeli settlements are “inconsistent” with international law.
“We are concerned that the breadth of the court’s opinion will complicate efforts to resolve the conflict and bring about an urgently needed just and lasting peace, with two states living side by side in peace and security,” the US State Department told Reuters News. agency.
Indonesia
The Southeast Asian country said the decision “addressed the aspiration of Indonesia and the rest of the international community to bring justice to the Palestinians.”
“Indonesia calls on the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to satisfy the court’s request by considering appropriate means and necessary measures to end Israel’s illegal presence in Palestine,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Ireland
Foreign Minister Michael Martin said he will work with EU and UN partners “to see how we can now enforce this official opinion of the court to end…Israel’s illegal presence” in occupied Palestinian territory.
Qatar
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ICJ decision “reflects the high provisions of international law that must be respected”.
He reiterated Qatar’s “firm stance on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the moral imperative to support the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.”
The State of Qatar welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem
Read more: https://t.co/FrA6b3Axry#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/xS4BnwNHtC
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) July 20, 2024
Jordan
Foreign Minister Ayman Sadadi said: “Israel’s impunity must end. Their war crimes must be stopped. Israel must be held accountable.”
Israel’s reaction to the ICJ decision and its Knesset resolution to prevent the fulfillment of the Palestinian people’s right to freedom further proves Israel’s complete disregard for international law. Israel’s impunity must end. Their war crimes must be stopped. Israel must be held accountable.
-Ayman Safadi (@AymanHsafadi) July 19, 2024
Kuwait
The Gulf country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to fulfill its “legal, political and moral duties to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state and stop the aggression against Gaza”.
Liechtenstein
The European principality’s mission to the UN stated that the ICJ “places the rule of law at the center of the resolution of international disputes”.
“We look forward to working with all states based on [ruling]in particular to guarantee the full application of the right to self-determination”, he stated in X.
LI welcomes you to @CIJ_ICJ Advisory Opinion, which places the Rule of Law at the center of international dispute resolution. We look forward to working with all States based on the AO, in particular to ensure the full implementation of the right to self-determination.
— Liechtenstein UN (@LiechtensteinUN) July 19, 2024
Malaysia
The Southeast Asian country welcomed the “historic decision”.
“Malaysia calls on all states to compel Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling and to immediately cease their support for Israel in continuing its illegal occupation of Palestine,” he said.
PRESS RELEASE: MALAYSIA WELCOMES THE DECISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ON THE ISSUE OF PALESTINE pic.twitter.com/ViN2LEpmhY
– Wisma Putra (@MalaysiaMFA) July 20, 2024
Norway
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called the ICJ decision “crystal clear”.
“Israeli policies and practices must be considered annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and violate international law,” he wrote in X.
The ICJ is absolutely clear: Israeli policies and practices must be considered annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and constitute a violation of international law.
This is an unequivocal message to Israel, which we hope it will fulfill immediately.
-Espen Barth Eide (@EspenBarthEide) July 19, 2024
Spain
Madrid said the decision “includes important pronouncements… on the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and on the settlements, among other aspects.”
“The government urges the UN and the international community to take into account the report’s findings and adopt appropriate measures in this regard,” he said.
Slovenia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Israel “to fulfill its duties and obligations under international law” as set out in the ICJ opinion.
Slovenia welcomes the advisory opinion issued by the @CIJ_ICJ on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
Slovenia calls on Israel to fulfill its duties and obligations under… pic.twitter.com/1JmMx3s66c
— MFEA Slovenia (@MZEZ_RS) July 19, 2024
South Africa
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said the decision “affirms South Africa’s long-standing position that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory continues to be illegal under international law”.
“There is now an additional legal obligation for all States to end complicity in Israel’s illegal actions and act to ensure respect for international law,” he said in a statement.
UK
The newly formed Labor government said it “respects the independence of the ICJ” and is considering the decision before giving an official response.
The Foreign Office added that the UK “strongly opposes the expansion of illegal settlements and the rise in settler violence”.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, which established formal diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, “welcomed” the decision.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it “rejects all measures aimed at altering the historical and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory and all practices that contravene resolutions on international legitimacy that threaten further escalation and instability in the region and impede efforts to achieve peace and stability.”
Saudi Arabia
The kingdom welcomed the decision, while underlining the “need to take practical and credible measures to achieve a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause”.
#Declaration | Saudi Arabia welcomes the advisory opinion issued by the ICJ on Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which confirms the illegality of the Israeli presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories over the past 57 years. pic.twitter.com/3jtVZ4ZAEG
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@KSAmofaEN) July 19, 2024
Peru
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the international community “is obliged to take a firm and resolute position to put an end to Israel’s illegal practices.”
On the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice pic.twitter.com/QU8Yv0jhUd
– Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) July 19, 2024
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
