Colombia Condemns Israeli Occupation of Palestine

Colombia has condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as illegal and in violation of international law. The Colombian government presented its intervention today during the hearings before the ICJ.

This intervention is made in the context of the request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s practices and policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Apartheid over the Palestinian people

The Colombian delegates argued that Israel’s policies and practices in pursuance of that occupation have resulted in imposed persecution, racial discrimination and apartheid on the Palestinian people and violate their right to self-determination. In addition, Colombia argued that the legal consequences of such actions must be seen in the context of the current grave situation, with various implications.

First, that the international responsibility of the State of Israel has been compromised by these actions and that it must, on the one hand, cease the conduct in violation of its international obligations and comply with those obligations. Moreover, on the other hand, it must put an end to the occupation and to the implementation of the violating policies and practices. Likewise, it must repair and compensate the damages caused, and provide guarantees of non-repetition.

Second, that States must, on the one hand, not recognize the illegal occupation and refrain from aiding or assisting in its continuation, and, on the other hand, cooperate among themselves and assist the States involved to put an end to the situation and achieve a negotiated solution.

Third, that the United Nations, and in particular the General Assembly and the Security Council, should redouble their efforts to find additional measures for these same purposes. It is important to remember that this process is independent of the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice on December 29, 2023, a complaint supported by Colombia.