The war of legitimacy: how the ICJ and UNGA challenged decades of Israel, US arrogance

Several people were present during an emergency rally for the defense of the Palestinian State in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 27 May 2024 in Madrid, Spain. [Matias Chiofalo/Europa Press via Getty Images]

I believe that the Palestinians will liberate themselves.

However, the position of the international community remains significant as it re-emphasizes the legitimacy of the Palestinian struggle, creates space for solidarity, and helps further marginalize Israel for its continued violations of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Two historical events regarding the Israeli occupation of Palestine took place on 19 July and 18 September. The first was a most comprehensive “advisory opinion” by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which reiterated that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal and must come to an immediate end. The second arrived two months later, when the UN General Assembly set, for the first time in history, an exact time frame for when the Israeli occupation of Palestine must end.

Many Palestinians welcomed the international consensus that essentially declared to be null and void any Israeli attempt to make what is meant to be a temporary military occupation permanent. However, many were not impressed, understandably so, simply because the international community has proven ineffectual in bringing the catastrophic Israeli war against the Palestinians in Gaza to an end, or in enforcing its previous resolutions on the matter.

Israeli media largely ignored both events, while mainstream Western media repeatedly emphasised that both the advisory opinion and the resolution are “non-binding”. This is true. However, as former UN Special Rapporteur John Dugard said twenty years ago, the laws and conventions upon which advisory opinions are based “are binding”, not least the Fourth Geneva Convention. [See Protecting Human Rights in Occupied Palestine…, Clarity Press, 2022, p19]

Although it is also true that international law without enforcement is largely useless, one must not be rash to conclude that the latest actions by the ICJ and the General Assembly deserve no pause for consideration. To appreciate the importance of both, we must place them within their proper context.

Unlike the ICJ’s advisory opinion of 2004, the 19 July opinion does not focus on a specific issue, the illegality of Israel’s so-called Separation Wall in the occupied West Bank. The latest decision by the world’s highest Court was the outcome of a specific request by the UNGA on 20 January, 2023, to opine “on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

Moreover, the ICJ reached its conclusions after listening to the testimonies of representatives of 52 countries and three international organisations, which sided fully with the Palestinians in their historic quest for freedom, justice and respect for international law.

The ICJ opinion leaves no space for Israeli and US misinterpretation

Then there is the fact that the ICJ opinion touched upon numerous issues, leaving no space for any misinterpretation on the part of Israel and the United States. For example, it called on Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in occupied Palestine, and for it to “withdraw its military forces; halt the expansion of settlements and evacuate all settlers from occupied land; and demolish parts of a separation wall constructed inside the occupied West Bank.”

US officials give Israeli PM Netanyahu standing ovation as he vows to continue bombing Gaza – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

The ICJ opinion follows years of supposed Israeli achievements in marginalising the Palestinian cause and exacting American support, which effectively recognised Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian and Arab land.

If the ICJ pressed the reset button on the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the UNGA pressed the political button. Indeed, UN Resolution A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1 on 18 September has ended any Israeli illusions that it will be able, through pressure, threats or the passage of time, to end the conversation on its military occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

The resolution “calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank.”

Importantly, 124 countries voted in favour of the resolution, while 14 voted against it, separating once again those who believe in the primacy of international law in conflict resolution and those who don’t. Also significant is that the UN set a time frame for when the Israeli occupation must come to an end: “No later than 12 months from the adoption of the resolution.”

In international law, military occupations are meant to be a temporary process, regulated through numerous treaties and legal understandings, including the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Israel, however, has turned that temporary process into a permanent one.

If the Israeli military occupation does not end within the resolution’s specified time frame, Israel would then be in violation of two sets of laws: previous UN resolutions on the matter, including the ICJ advisory opinions, and the latest resolution as well.

The emphasis by western media on the “non-binding” element of these resolutions does not, in any way, alter the illegality of the Israeli occupation, or undermine the unanimity of the international community regarding the righteousness of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation and all other injustices.

Ultimately, Palestine will not be liberated by a UN resolution.

UN resolutions are merely an expression of the balances of power that exist on the international stage. As such, Palestinians and their supporters should not expect that a UN resolution, binding or otherwise, will drive the Israeli military out of the West Bank and Gaza.

I believe that the Palestinians will liberate themselves. However, the position of the international community remains significant as it re-emphasises the legitimacy of the Palestinian struggle, creates space for solidarity and helps further marginalise Israel for its continued violations of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.