Riyad al-Maliki, President Mahmoud Abbas’s Advisor for International Affairs and Special Envoy, hailed today the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—concerning the Israeli occupation of Palestine—as a pivotal moment for Palestine, justice, and international law.
During a press conference held by the Palestinian delegation following the ICJ’s ruling, al-Maliki stated, “We have always said that justice will inevitably prevail, and today the International Court of Justice and its judges have fulfilled their duty by deciding that the Israeli occupation is illegal. They declared that settlements are illegal and must be dismantled, and all settlers must be removed from Palestinian territory.”
“This means that Israel is obligated to end its colonial project immediately and unconditionally, and it is the duty of the international community to take all necessary measures to end the occupation,” he continued.
Al-Maliki further emphasized that the ICJ found the Israeli occupation to be illegal, violating the UN Charter, human rights, and international humanitarian law, including particularly the prohibition of apartheid.
He stressed that the ICJ’s decision at this moment supports the resilience of the Palestinian people and instills hope for a future free from colonization. This comes at a time when our people in Gaza are facing severe genocide, defending their absolute and non-negotiable right to liberation from colonization.
Al-Maliki concluded by condemning the continued Israeli occupation as rooted in policies of racial segregation, political and cultural persecution, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
These policies, said the President’s adviser, have enabled Israel to deny the Palestinian people their right to self-determination for over 76 years, prolonging their suffering through impunity, which has allowed Israel to commit genocide now exposed before the world in Gaza and throughout occupied Palestinian territories.
Source: WAFA
