United Nations experts have declared that third countries supporting Israel in its “unlawful occupation” of Palestinian territory are complicit in potential war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip. The experts, part of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, have outlined specific actions that countries need to take following a recent ICJ advisory opinion stating Israel’s occupation since 1967 is illegal.
According to the commission, Israel has a legal obligation to cease all new settlement activity and dismantle existing settlements in the West Bank, which are home to approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers. The General Assembly’s recent vote demanding an end to the occupation within a year has further emphasized the need for Israel to comply with international law.
The commission has called on all countries to refrain from recognizing Israel’s claims over the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and to cease aiding or supporting the unlawful occupation. Failure to do so could result in complicity in internationally wrongful acts committed by Israel, the commission warned.
The commission also criticized the UN Security Council for its inaction, citing the veto power of certain permanent members, such as the United States, as a barrier to upholding international law. The commission stressed the need for all states to comply with their obligations under the Genocide Convention and to take measures to prevent further violations of peremptory norms of international law.
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