OIC, Arab League, Iran condemn Israel’s West Bank annexation bill
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League and Iran condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli parliament (Knesset)'s recent approval of a legislation aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank and imposing the illegal entity’s sovereignty over it.
"The Israeli parliament’s approval of two draft laws aimed at imposing so-called 'Israeli sovereignty' over the occupied West Bank and Israel’s illegal colonial settlements is strongly condemned as a clear violation of international law, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli measures changing the demographic structure, character, and status of the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, since 1967,” the OIC and the Arab League said in a joint written statement.
"It also violates the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which confirms the illegality of Israel’s occupation and invalidates settlement construction and annexation measures in the West Bank. The parties reaffirm once again that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories," the statement added.
The statement underlined that the ICJ reminded Israel of its obligation to respect the prohibition against using starvation as a method of warfare, considering Israel’s restrictions on aid to Gaza.
It also reiterated the court’s reaffirmation of the prohibition of forced displacement and deportation, including imposing unlivable conditions.
The ICJ reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state, while recalling that Israel’s territorial claims over East Jerusalem have been declared "null and void" by the UN Security Council.
It warned against Israel’s continuation of unilateral and illegal policies and practices and called on the international community to take up its legal and moral responsibilities to compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation and unlawful actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The joint statement underlined that supporting the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to establish an independent and sovereign state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital, is the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region, as well as ensuring security and stability.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement that the bill is another step in the path of the regime's colonial and criminal expansionism, which continues eight decades of continuous violation of the fundamental right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
Baghaei added that these policies adopted by Israel confirm the Israeli regime's plan for comprehensive ethnic cleansing throughout occupied Palestine.
The spokesman also highlighted the continuing gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the West Bank and the genocide in Gaza.