Saudi Arabia urges immediate termination of Israeli occupation of Palestine

Saudi Arabia has demanded an immediate and unconditional cessation of Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories. Addressing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, the Kingdom condemned Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Israel’s actions since 1967 have obstructed the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

Ziad Al-Attiyah, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, delivered the statement during the ICJ’s public hearings, seeking an advisory opinion on the legal ramifications of Israel’s policies and practices in occupied territories, notably East Jerusalem. Al-Attiyah decried Israel’s military incursions in Gaza and escalating violence against Palestinians, denouncing the killing, destruction, and displacement of civilians resulting from what he termed a brutal and illegal war.

Expressing the Kingdom’s rejection and condemnation of Israel’s actions, Al-Attiyah rebuffed Israel’s rationale for its conduct, which he claimed had resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and the displacement of millions in Gaza. He emphasized the urgency for the ICJ to intervene, highlighting the global significance of the issue at hand.

Al-Attiyah underscored Israel’s annexation of land, proliferation of illegal settlements in the West Bank, and the unlawful annexation of East Jerusalem, citing documented evidence from numerous United Nations reports. He urged the court to define the legal ramifications of Israel’s prolonged occupation and its impact on the Palestinian territories, emphasizing the implications for all states and the United Nations.

Rejecting assertions that the ICJ’s opinion would hinder peace negotiations, Al-Attiyah urged the court to deem Israel’s occupation illegal and called for international cooperation to halt Israel’s violations of international law. The public hearings, focusing on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, commenced on February 19 and are scheduled to conclude on February 26.