The Diplomat
The Government of Spain welcomed this Wednesday the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s obligations as an occupying power in the Palestinian Territory.
The opinion, which responds to a request from the United Nations General Assembly in this regard, includes “important pronouncements” from the Court on Israel’s obligations as a member of the United Nations and as an occupying power in the Palestinian Territory.
In this regard, the opinion recalls Israel’s obligation to cooperate fully with the UN and to respect its privileges and immunities, as well as its obligations under international humanitarian law, such as guaranteeing humanitarian assistance, facilitating UN action (including UNRWA), protecting humanitarian and medical personnel, prohibiting the use of starvation as a weapon of war, and prohibiting forced population displacement.
“Spain has participated in the written and oral phases of this advisory procedure, in which it has defended the need to respect the United Nations Charter, which includes the obligation to cooperate with the United Nations, including UNRWA, and to respect international law, including international humanitarian law, to facilitate humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The Government urges the international community to take the conclusions of the opinion into consideration and to adopt appropriate measures in this regard,” it concluded.
