CANBERRA: Australia has called on Israel to take decisive action against violence perpetrated by settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, following a landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that declared Israel responsible for maintaining an apartheid system.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the need for “concrete steps” from Israel to halt extremist settler activities, which Canberra views as a significant impediment to achieving peace in the region. Wong’s statement, published on X, underscored Australia’s respect for the ICJ’s independence and its role in upholding international law and the rules-based order.
“We are carefully considering the details of the ICJ opinion to fully understand the conclusions reached,” Wong stated. She further announced Australia’s decision to deny travel visas to individuals identified as settlers, aligning with their stance on promoting a just and enduring peace that recognizes the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
“A just and enduring peace will require the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination to be realized,” Wong affirmed. She called on Israel to cease settlement expansion and respond decisively to extremist settler activities.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion, though non-binding, called for Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories “as rapidly as possible” and to provide reparations for internationally wrongful acts. This opinion was issued in response to a request made by the UN General Assembly in 2022 to assess the legal consequences of Israeli policies in the Occupied Territories.
Reacting to the ICJ’s ruling, Tirana Hassan, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, hailed it as a historic decision that holds Israel accountable for serious violations of international law against Palestinians. Hassan emphasized that the ruling places responsibility on all states and the United Nations to end these violations and address apartheid-like practices.
“The court has placed responsibility with all states and the United Nations to end these violations of international law,” Hassan remarked in a statement. She urged the United States to reassess its policy of defending Israel’s actions towards Palestinians, calling for a comprehensive reevaluation by other countries as well.
Statement on the International Court of Justice ruling on Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories. pic.twitter.com/xkBSLSkv11
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) July 20, 2024
