A group of UN human rights experts is calling UN member states to pressure Israel to comply with a recent court order to end its illegal occupation of Palestine using everything in their power, potentially including an arms embargo and cutting of diplomatic and financial ties.
In a statement released Tuesday, the group of 38 independent experts reiterated the findings of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark opinion saying that Israel is illegally occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza and committing the crime of apartheid.
They say that the opinion is an important step toward Palestinian self-determination and freedom from Israel’s oppression, and that it is incumbent upon member states to ensure it is enforced considering Israel’s long history of flagrantly violating international laws.
“The Court has finally reaffirmed a principle that seemed unclear, even to the United Nations: Freedom from foreign military occupation, racial segregation and apartheid is absolutely non-negotiable,” the group said. “May this historic ruling begin the realisation of the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination, and peace premised on freedom for all.”
Many UN special rapporteurs — experts appointed by the UN to advise on human rights — and UN working group leaders signed the statement.
Echoing longtime calls of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement led by Palestinian activists, the experts said member states must consider ending “all diplomatic, political and economic ties with Israel, inclusive of all business and finance, pension funds, academia and charities.” They also call on member states to rescind laws that ban advocacy against Israel’s occupation — like the U.S.’s anti-BDS and anti-protest laws.
On top of these actions, states should participate in an arms embargo to Israel and implement targeted sanctions like the freezing of assets on individuals and entities that are perpetuating the occupation, segregation and apartheid in Palestine, they said. The experts added that anyone who is involved in perpetuating these crimes should be prosecuted.
The ICJ’s July ruling came as a result of a years-old case against Israel, filed before Israel began its ongoing bombing and starvation campaign against Palestinians in Gaza in October. However, tools used in its enforcement, like an arms embargo, could help to combat the current genocide — if global powers were to leverage them — as well as Israel’s recent acceleration of violence and settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
As of Thursday, the 300th day of Israel’s genocide, Israel has killed over 39,480 people in Gaza, including over 15,000 children, according to the official government count. The true death count is likely far, far higher, experts have said.
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