(CLO) UN experts said third countries that support and allow Israel's "illegal occupation" of the Gaza Strip, despite warnings of war crimes and possible genocide, should be considered "complicit".
"Not only does Israel bear legal responsibility for its wrongdoings on the international stage, but so do all the states that support it," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on October 18.
A Jewish settlement. Photo: AP
Following the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declaring the Israeli occupation since 1967 “illegal”, the Commission has published a new legal text outlining specific actions to be taken, while also considering the implications of last month’s UN General Assembly vote demanding an end to the occupation within a year.
“Israel must immediately put in place a comprehensive action plan to evacuate all settlers from the occupied territories,” the committee report said.
The committee also demanded that Israel “return land, property rights and natural resources to Palestinians displaced since 1967”.
According to the Commission, other countries also have lists of obligations to fulfil.
Ms Pillay said all states “have an obligation not to recognise territorial or sovereignty claims made by Israel over the occupied territories”.
Countries must not "recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or establish their diplomatic representation in Israel in Jerusalem," she said.
She said countries must also refrain from providing “aid or support to (Israel) to maintain its illegal occupation”, adding that this included all “financial, military and political aid or support”.
The committee also stressed that all states must comply with their "obligations under the Genocide Convention" and implement provisional measures ordered by the ICJ in the case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
“The Committee finds that all States are on notice that Israel may be or is committing internationally wrongful acts, including its military activities in Gaza and its illegal occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” the document said.
“The committee therefore finds that, unless states cease providing aid and assistance to Israel in carrying out these actions, they will be considered complicit in these internationally wrongful acts,” the committee added.
Israel has long accused the independent UN commission of "systemic discrimination against Israel".
The committee stressed that the United Nations also needs to do more to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under international law.
Ngoc Anh (according to AJ)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chuyen-gia-lien-hop-quoc-cac-nuoc-ho-tro-israel-co-the-bi-coi-la-dong-loa-ve-toi-diet-chung-post317524.html
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