Amnesty International’s Important Call to the EU
Ahead of the European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels tomorrow, UK-based Amnesty International has published a letter addressed to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU foreign ministers. In the letter, the organization calls on Borrell and European ministers to take steps to translate the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 into effective policies to end Israel’s violations of international law.
The letter recalled that the court had expressed its opinion that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories was unlawful. In this context, it was emphasized that Israel had the obligation to end its occupation, immediately stop all new settlement activities, evacuate the settlers and compensate for the damage caused. It was also stated that the court had the obligation of all states not to recognize Israel’s unlawful presence as lawful and not to provide any assistance or support to maintain this situation.
Importance of Court Opinion
Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, said in the letter that the EU has long recognized that the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including East Jerusalem, are under Israeli occupation. However, she emphasized that the EU’s policies and practices towards Israel fall short of addressing the illegality of the occupied Palestinian territory and the serious violations Israel has committed to maintain the occupation. Geddie said the court’s advisory opinion left no room for doubt.
Geddie stated that Israel’s occupation, annexation of Palestinian lands, settlement establishment policy, land seizure and exploitation of natural resources of the occupied Palestinian territories were unlawful, while also stressing that Israel’s discriminatory policies and practices towards the Palestinians “violate the prohibition of racial discrimination and apartheid .”
Call to the EU to Take Concrete Steps
Eve Geddie said the court’s findings clearly pointed to violations of international law committed by Israel and the obligation of third states not to legitimise or support these violations. Geddie said that the supply of arms and equipment by EU member states and their trade and investment in illegal Israeli settlements encouraged Israel’s violations of international law and were contrary to its obligations under international law.
“Business as usual cannot be done with a state that maintains a brutal, unlawful occupation and commits serious violations of international law on a massive scale, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. The brutal bombing of Gaza, at clear risk of genocide, the “deadly escalation of state-sponsored settler violence and the recent military offensive in the West Bank are all byproducts of Israel’s unlawful occupation and decades of impunity thanks to EU inaction,” Geddie said.
In conclusion, Geddie stressed that the EU’s call for a ceasefire and an end to settler violence will be in vain unless concrete steps are taken, such as an immediate arms embargo, a ban on trade with Israeli settlements and support for action at the United Nations to end Israel’s illegal occupation.
