UN member states and EU must not enter into economic agreements that would support Israel settlement activity in Occupied Palestinian Territory, Attorney General says
The law of state responsibility requires Israel to end the serious breaches outlined by Ireland, including by reversing its settlement activity in the OPT and making reparation for the damage caused, he said. The public hearings began last Monday on foot of a request from the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion on questions arising from the Israeli occupation.Opening his address, the Attorney said Ireland has condemned the October 7th “reprehensible” Hamas attacks on Israel unequivocally and those responsible must be held accountable for the serious violations of international law involved, including the rape and murder of civilians and taking of hostages.
While lamenting the lack of progress towards achieving that objective, Ireland believes clarification by the ICJ, of the international issues raised by the prolonged occupation of the Palestinian Territory “will assist in building a stable foundation upon which to build a just resolution”. There was a “recent and marked” increase in reports of Palestinian civilians being subject to serious and sustained violence by Israeli settlers with little or no protection from the security forces contrary to international humanitarian law, he noted.
The ICJ ruled in an earlier case that Israel is obliged to end the breaches of its obligations, to respect the right of Palestine to self-determination and to make reparation for the damage caused by its breaches, he noted.