Saudi Arabia Welcomes ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel’s Practices in Palestinian Territories
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion regarding Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in statement that the Kingdom welcomes the ICJ’s advisory opinion, in which the UN Court confirms the illegality of the Israeli presence in the occupied Palestinian territories over the past 57 years.
#Statement | Saudi Arabia welcomes the advisory opinion issued by the ICJ regarding 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
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) July 19, 2024
Furthermore, the Kingdom stresses the need to take practical and credible steps to reach a just and comprehensible solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions in a way that guarantees the Palestinian people their inherent right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the statement added.
ICJ Advisory Opinion
The ICJ on Friday concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and it has an obligation to end its unlawful presence as rapidly as possible. The Court also concluded that Israel is under obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and evacuate all settlers from the occupied territories.
Moreover, Israel has to make full reparations for the damage caused due to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Also, all states are under obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The ICJ’s opinion was provided in response to a request from the UN General Assembly in 2022. However, it is non-binding.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia rejected and condemned in the strongest terms the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli official and the Knesset adoption of a resolution that opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Earlier, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned and denounced the ongoing Israeli genocidal massacres against Palestinian people, including the targeting of displaced Palestinian camps in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.