Iran Press/Europe: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated on Friday that Israel's settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law. The ruling, a non-binding advisory opinion from the top UN court, is not likely to directly impact Israeli policy but will contribute to the increasing international pressure on Israel to develop a comprehensive strategy to end the conflict in Gaza.
This ruling is not connected to events since October 7, when Hamas militants led incursions into Israel, taking some 250 hostages and leading to the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Nawaf Salam, president of the ICJ in The Hague, read out the nonbinding advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory on Friday.
He said that Israel was in breach of the sixth paragraph of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which says the occupying power should not deport or transfer part of its civilian population into the territory it occupies.
“Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,” Salam said, reading the findings of a 15-judge panel.
He added that Israel’s policies and practices in the Palestinian territory amounted to the annexation of large parts of these territories and that the court finds Israel systematically discriminates against Palestinians in the occupied territory.
The latest report from the ministry indicates that the Palestinian death toll has reached 38,848, with an additional 89,459 people having been injured in Israeli attacks since October 7.
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