World Court says Israel’s settlement policies breach international law

The UN court says Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories amounted to annexation.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories are in breach of international law.

Nawaf Salam, president of the ICJ in the Hague, began reading out the non-binding advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories on Friday.

He said that Israel was in breach of the sixth paragraph of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which says the occupying power should not deport or transfer part of its civilian population into the territory it occupies.

He added that Israel’s policies and practices in the Palestinian territories amounted to the annexation of large parts of these territories and that the court finds Israel systematically discriminates against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the highest UN body for hearing disputes between states.

In a separate case brought by South Africa, the ICJ is considering allegations that Israel is committing genocide in its war on Gaza.

A preliminary ruling has already been made in that case, with the court ordering Israel to prevent and punish incitement to genocide and to increase provisions of humanitarian aid.

The ICJ had also ordered Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah, citing “immense risk” to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians taking shelter in Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza. But Israel has continued attacks on Gaza, including Rafah, in defiance of the UN court.

This is a developing story. More to come.