ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israeli Occupation – One Year On
Posted: 18th July 2025
Peace with justice, security and equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians
ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israeli Occupation – One Year On
On 19th July 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion concluding that Israel’s continued military occupation of Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is illegal and must end “as soon as possible”. The Court found Israel’s policies – including settlements and annexation measures – violate international law and Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and it called for withdrawal of settlers and the payment of reparations.
The UK has acknowledged the ICJ’s central findings and reiterated that Israel should end its presence in the OPTs “as rapidly as possible”. However, Britain has abstained on related UN resolutions, arguing that such texts lacked clarity on how these actions would advance a negotiated two-state solution. Our Government has not yet delivered its long overdue public analysis of the ICJ Advisory Opinion and its policy implications. UK emphasises a return to diplomacy while also sanctioning certain individuals involved in illegal settlement violence and ending some defence contracts.
The advisory opinion outlined concrete but non-binding legal obligations for various actors:
- Israel must cease its unlawful occupation and related practices, dismantle its settlements, and withdraw all settlers from occupied territory. Israel is also obliged to make full reparation for the damage caused by its violations, including restitution and compensation to Palestinian victims.
- All States are under a duty not to recognise the illegal situation arising from the military occupation nor aid or assist in maintaining Israel’s presence in the OPT. In other words, states should treat the occupation as illegitimate – for example, avoiding trade or diplomatic arrangements that entrench the settlements – and are required to cooperate to bring the occupation to an end.
- The UN, and particularly the Security Council and General Assembly, must act consistently with the Advisory Opinion – upholding their responsibility to ensure Israel’s compliance.
- End all forms of military cooperation and arms trade with Israel because the occupation of the OPTs is a military occupation and the IDF has failed to protect Palestinians from settler violence.
- Expand unilaterally and with allies the scope of sanctions on individuals and companies benefiting from or supporting trade with settlement businesses and individuals.
- Instruct dual citizens living in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank to leave.
- Introduce a UK visa regime for settlers to ensure parity with the visa regime for Palestinians.
- Suspend the UK Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement on the grounds of Israel’s breach of its human rights provisions.
- Persuade key European states to act now to suspend the EU Israel Association Agreement due to Israel’s breach of its human rights provisions. Suspension requires only a qualified majority vote.
- Ban commercial engagement with illegal settlements, and trade in settlement goods and services, including financial services which enable the economic activity of the settlements.
- Ban cultural, sporting and academic links with all Israeli public and private institutions based across the pre-1967 Green Line in illegal settlements eg Ariel “University”.
- Work with a broad coalition of states to suspend Israel’s membership of the UN until it is judged by UNGA to be again in compliance with its Charter obligations and fully respects IHL and all human rights conventions to which it is a signatory.
Andrew Whitley
Chair, Britain Palestine Project
To mark the anniversary Caabu has organised a letter signed by 112 Parliamentarians demanding that the government publish its response see: HERE
If your MP has not signed this letter you might want to ask them why?