The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have strongly condemned Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The three Arab states, which have recently normalized their relations with Israel, have urged the court to declare Israel’s occupation illegal and to uphold the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The court is hearing arguments from 52 states on the legal consequences of the situation in Palestine, following a request from the UN General Assembly.
The UAE’s ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, said that international law cannot be an “a la carte menu” and that it must apply equally to all. She said that the court’s advisory opinion would assist the General Assembly in its functions related to the question of Palestine, and would also contribute to achieving a peaceful and just resolution of the conflict, based on the two-state solution.
Nusseibeh expressed her concern over the “horrors” that have unfolded in the region, such as the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the destruction of the Gaza Strip, and the oppression in the West Bank. She said that these events underscore the need for realizing the long-denied right of the Palestinians to self-determination, with an independent and sovereign state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side-by-side with Israel.
Nusseibeh also accused Israel of committing “grave violations” against the Palestinians with impunity, and called on the court to affirm the applicability of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory, and to hold Israel accountable for its breaches.
Saudi Arabia: Israel’s occupation is illegal and must end
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Ziad Al-Atiyah, said that Israel’s prolonged occupation is illegal and must be immediately brought to an end. He said that the occupation violates the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and numerous UN resolutions, and that it deprives the Palestinians of their basic rights and dignity.
Al-Atiyah specifically criticized Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank, saying that they are eroding the possibility of a two-state solution. He also denounced Israel’s policy of “mass forcible expulsion” of Palestinian civilians from Gaza, and its use of excessive and disproportionate force against the population.
Al-Atiyah said that the court’s advisory opinion would provide a clear and authoritative guidance on the legal obligations of Israel and the international community, and would also reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and statehood.
Egypt: Israel’s actions threaten regional peace and security
Egypt’s advisor to the foreign minister, Yasmine Moussa, said that Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territory threaten regional peace and security, and undermine the prospects of a lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict. She said that Israel’s occupation is not only illegal, but also unsustainable, and that it must end without further delay.
Moussa said that the court’s advisory opinion would have a significant impact on the efforts to achieve peace and justice in the region, and would also support the role of the UN and its organs in addressing the question of Palestine. She said that the court’s opinion would also reflect the voice of the international community, which has repeatedly expressed its support for the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
Moussa urged the court to uphold the principles and values of the international legal order, and to send a clear message that the rule of law must prevail over the rule of force.
