ICJ ruling calls on people to fight Israeli apartheid: South Africa
The International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion shows that states “must isolate the State of Israel for continuing to… practise apartheid in Palestine,” South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has said in a statement.
“The people of the world helped us to fight against apartheid. This ruling also called for the people of the world to help the people of Palestine, Gaza [and the] West Bank to fight this enduring apartheid by the state of Israel,” Lamola said.
Lamola added that the court’s opinion also showed that Israel’s argument that it was acting in self-defence did not hold.
“This ruling clearly shows that an occupier can’t act in self-defence,” he said.
The World Court’s ruling on Friday came following a 2022 request from the UN General Assembly and 49 submissions from member states, including South Africa. South Africa has also separately brought another case before the ICJ, alleging that Israel is committing genocide in its war on Gaza.
LISTEN | Minister Ronald Lamola reacts to the International Court of Justice’s advisory ruling on the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and settlement. 19/07/2024https://t.co/YmpYyG1bn3 pic.twitter.com/IHZz2X3EnQ
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) July 20, 2024
ICJ opinion on unlawful Israeli occupation ‘consistent with EU positions’: Borrell
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, says the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and needs to end is “largely consistent with EU positions”.
“In a world of increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions,” he said on X.
The @CIJ_ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territory is largely consistent with EU positions.
In a world of increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions.
1/2https://t.co/rCJuLfcsmI
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 20, 2024
Israel must face consequences to deter others from ‘such cruelty’: Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Israel must face punishment for its actions to deter anyone “from considering such cruelty again”.
Erdogan also commented on an advisory issued by the International Court of Justice that affirmed Palestinians’ right to self-determination and ruled that illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territory must be evacuated.
“I hope this decision and previous ones not implemented by Israel will bring an awakening in the international community,” he said.
