ICJP sends submission to UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory on International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion
London, 16th July 2025 – The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians has answered a call for input from the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), ahead of a report on the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion (AO), nearly a year on from the AO, which reaffirmed the illegality of Israel’s occupation of the oPt.
The call for input was issued ahead of a report that the Special Rapporteur will present to the UN General Assembly in October 2025 for the 80th session. ICJP’s submission addresses Israel’s non-compliance with the AO, and its refusal to withdraw from the oPt.
The submission also highlights the UK’s ongoing complicity in Israel’s breaches of international law and provides a comprehensive overview on how States and International Organisations have responded to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s Advisory Opinion (AO) on the illegality of Israel’s occupation of the oPt.
For instance, the submission assesses whether states have sought to hold Israel accountable under international and domestic law – including by recognising the illegality of the Israeli regime, initiating criminal proceedings, imposing robust sanctions, or suspending trade.
The submission also comprehensively outlines Israel’s continued commission of international crimes and disregard for its legal obligations. In the year since the AO was issued, Israel has increased its military presence in the oPt, continued to expand settlements in the West Bank, exploited natural resources, destroyed Palestinian property and forcibly displaced thousands of Palestinians.
Only days ago, Israel announced its intention to pursue previously shelved plans to create over 3000 homes in the ‘E1’ area, a controversial plan that would encircle East Jerusalem with illegal settlements and essentially sever the northern parts of the West Bank from the southern parts.
The submission also reports on the actions of international organisations, including the UN. The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/ES-10/24 on 18th September 2024 which provided specific recommendations on the implementation of the AO for Israel and Member States. However, most states have failed to take meaningful action, overwhelmingly resorting to reactive, non-binding measures that, while symbolic, have no substantive meaning.
ICJP also highlights the UK’s unequal application of international law in its input. While the UK supported the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin, it has failed to commit to enforcing the warrants issues for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. In fact, the UK has welcomed senior Israeli officials implicated in crimes against humanity and genocide, with impunity.
While the UK has now adopted sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, this is too little, too late, and has had little effect on curbing the expansion of illegal settlements, or deterring settler violence. Instead, a comprehensive package of sanctions must target the entire Israeli military and political chain of command. At the same time, the UK has continued to supply Israel with components for F-35 fighter jets – used consistently by Israel in Gaza – and has refused to recognise Israel’s crimes of genocide or apartheid.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
ICJP is a legal organisation based in London, working to uphold international law and defend the rights of Palestinians.
For more information or for media inquiries, please contact the ICJP news desk at press@icjpalestine.com.