Qatar welcomes ICJ ‘ruling’; calls for end to Israeli occupation

Qatar has welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), asserting that Israel is obligated to end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the ICJ’s opinion covers the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, noting that the court recognised these areas as a single territorial unit, whose unity, coherence, and integrity must be preserved and respected. The court also affirmed that Israel must end its illegal occupation of Palestinian land as quickly as possible, halt all new settlements, evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories, and compensate all those affected by these unlawful practices.
The statement reiterated Qatar’s support for the court’s stance and called on all states and international organisations to refrain from recognising or supporting Israel’s illegal actions.
The statement also said that the advisory opinion reflected that the principles of international law that must be respected, urging all countries to act immediately to implement the court’s opinion unconditionally.
The statement also affirmed Qatar’s steadfast position on the justness of the Palestinian cause and the moral imperative to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
It emphasised the need to work together to end the Israeli apartheid occupation, recognise the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and fully realise the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
AFP adds from Brussels: The top UN court’s ruling that Israel’s 57-year occupation of Palestinian land was “illegal” is “largely consistent with EU positions”, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said yesterday.
The sweeping opinion on Friday by The Hague-based International Court of Justice - which called for the occupation to end as soon as possible - was immediately slammed as a “decision of lies” by Israel.
But the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs said that the bloc had taken “good note” of the court’s ruling and urged further backing for the court’s opinion.
“In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions in a consistent manner, irrespective of the subject in question,” Josep Borrell said. Page 3