UN Inquiry Panel Calls for End to Israeli Occupation in Palestinian Territories

GENEVA: A United Nations inquiry committee released a legal position paper on Friday, highlighting the responsibilities of states and international organizations, including the UN, to take concrete actions to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories deemed unlawful. According to Kuwait News Agency, Navi Pillay, chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, emphasized that Israel's actions have established a responsibility not just for Israel, but for all nations. "It is incumbent on all States to work cooperatively to bring the unlawful occupation to an end and to work towards the full realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination," Pillay stated. Pillay also stressed the obligation of states not to recognize territorial or sovereignty claims by Israel over the occupied territories. She urged states to refrain from acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or relocating their dip lomatic missions there. Additionally, she called for the cessation of aid that supports the occupation, including financial, military, and political assistance, identifying the occupation as the root cause of the enduring conflict. The legal position paper detailed the Commission's perspective on state responsibility and outlined how the UN General Assembly and Security Council can determine and implement measures to end the occupation swiftly. The Commission referenced the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion, which categorically states that Israel's ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful under international law. Furthermore, the paper appealed to Israeli authorities, third-party states, and the United Nations to develop a comprehensive plan to dismantle settlements, evacuate settlers, return land and resources to displaced Palestinians, and repeal discriminatory laws and policies. The UN Human Rights Council established the Commission on May 27, 2021, to examine a lleged violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory from April 13, 2021, onwards.