UK must act following ICJ ruling against apartheid Israel
The UK must take decisive action after the top UN court ruled that Israel is in violation of the Geneva Convention, the Scottish Greens have said.
The International Court of Justice found that Israel was guilty of illegally annexing Palestinian territory, enabling settler violence against Palestinian civilians, exploitation of Palestinian resources, and systematic discrimination including racial segregation and apartheid. The Court ordered the removal of all illegal Israeli settlers from the occupied territories of Palestine and the payment of reparations by Israel to the Palestinians.
The Scottish Greens have now called for the UK Government to take action including sanctions against all Israeli political, military and business figures involved in the illegal occupation of Palestine and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“This ruling is a damning indictment of Israel’s actions over the last six decades - and of countries like the UK who have armed, enabled and protected Israel as it carried out this brutal campaign of occupation and apartheid. The savage treatment of the Palestinian people must now end and the international community, including the new UK Government, must act to ensure the Court’s judgements are delivered.
“The Israeli response shows they have no intention of following international law or the Geneva Convention. In fact, the number of illegal settlers has grown rapidly in the last few years and will continue to grow as Israel dispossesses, beats and murders Palestinian civilians who get in the way.
“The UK Government has played a truly shameful role in this, arming the Israeli state and giving it political, economic and military support even as war crimes were openly committed. As a former human rights lawyer, Keir Starmer has an obligation to heed this verdict, drop his previous defence of Israel and take decisive action.
“Arms sales must stop immediately. All political and military support must stop immediately.
“Instead, support must be given to the rulings of the international courts. That should start with an arms embargo and sanctions against all those in Israel who are guilty of constructing this system of occupation and apartheid.
“Palestine’s right to self-determination and statehood must be recognised.”