This is an entry from: Israel-Palestine live: Israel bombs Unrwa building in Gaza
Israel’s settlements aim to bring permanent demographic change: Belgium tells ICJ
20 February 2024 13:07 GMT
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague has been hearing submissions from Belgium on Tuesday on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
- Belgium condemns the use of violence against the Palestinian population and wishes to highlight Israel’s obligations to put an end to violence and bring to justice the perpetrators
- Israel’s settlement policy aims to bring about a permanent alteration of the demographic composition of the Palestinian territory and the status of the Palestinian territory itself
- This policy is in violation of fundamental rules of international law: the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force; the principle of self-determination.
- The establishment of settlements is also linked to the establishment of two different systems: one for the settlers and one for the Palestinian population
- Israel must end all settlement activity and restore all property expropriated. Third states must not recognise the situation as legal, must not render aid, and must cooperate to end violations