ActionAid Ireland welcomes major UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation.

ActionAid Ireland strongly welcomes a major UN General Assembly resolution, and Ireland’s sponsorship of this resolution, that endorsed the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation.

Karol Balfe, ActionAid Ireland CEO, said: “We are pleased to see the UN General Assembly back this historic resolution. In doing so, its members have demonstrated a firm commitment to upholding international law. We also really welcome Ireland co-sponsoring of this resolution- the next logic step is for Ireland to pass the Occupied Territories Bill, which essentially would implement this resolution.”

The UN General Assembly resolution outlines steps to enforce the ICJ’s July opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as unlawful. Among the measures, it demands the end of the occupation, the removal of illegal settlers, reparations for Palestinians.

Ms. Balfe said: “The judgement of the world’s top court was clear: the Israeli government’s continued occupation of the Palestinian territory is illegal and must end. We call on the Israeli government to comply by ending its unlawful policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including by withdrawing its military forces and ceasing all settlement activities. States also have an unequivocal duty to adhere to the court’s ruling, including by halting all arms exports to the Israeli government immediately. 

While Ireland’s support for this resolution is an important milestone, the next and necessary step for our Government is to pass the Occupied Territories Bill and urging all political parties to commit to supporting it ahead of the upcoming general election and ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements.

Ms. Balfe added: “After almost a year of relentless bombardment and killing in Gaza, it has never been more urgent that all countries do everything in their power to bring about a permanent and immediate ceasefire. Now is the time to invoke targeted sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezes on senior Israeli government officials linked to alleged violations of international humanitarian law.”

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