UN Court Calls Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories Illegal

Source: NurPhoto / Getty

THE HAGUE — Recent conflicts between Israel and Palestine have fed broader discussions about territorial rights in the Middle East. Now, one court says Israel’s “occupation” of certain areas is illegal.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the top court of the United Nations, also known as the World Court – says Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is breaking international law.

Control of the regions has historically been a point of contention between Israel and Palestine.

Source: NICK GAMMON / Getty

War between the nations most recently began last October. Since that time, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 1,000 Israelis are dead.

While the ICJ’s determination cannot force any changes to occur, the court’s stance highlights growing concerns for the Palestinian people, culture, and heritage.

But, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “The Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land… No absurd opinion in The Hague can deny this historical truth or the legal right of Israelis to live in their own communities in our ancestral home.”