1. Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is illegal

 

On July 19th 2024, the ICJ issued its advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the consequences of Israel’s conduct for other states. This followed an 18-month process including public hearings in which more than 50 states, including Palestine, and three international organisations participated. The long-awaited advisory opinion stated that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories was a clear violation of international law.

 

i. Presentation to the ICJ by Ralph Wilde, KC, on behalf of the Arab League, March 1st, 2024

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ii. Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19th July 2024. This official ICJ document begins with lengthy arguments concerning the court’s jurisdiction, leading to the conclusion that it does indeed have jurisdiction to rule. Its conclusions as regards Israeli policies and actions begin on page 9, under the heading V. ISRAEL’S POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY (PARAS. 103-243). Pages 19 onwards record the votes of the members of the Court.​

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iii. The ICJ ruling is a historic vindication of Palestinian rights, Amnesty International, July 19th, 2024

 

iv.  Why the ICJ Ruling Against Israel’s Occupation Is a Legal Earthquake, in Slow Motion, by Michael Sfard, Dawn, July 23rd, 2024

 

v. UK should stop arming Israel to comply with ICJ ruling, Philippe Sands, Guardian, July 29th 2024

 

vi. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s statement on the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, August 2nd, 2024

 

2. South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide

i. South Africa launches case at the ICJ, accusing Israel of committing genocide
in Gaza, PBS News, December 29th, 2023

ii. Details of the South African case, PBS News, January 3rd, 2024. This article contains a link to the
full South African indictment, and gives a summary.

iii. Al Jazeera quick guide to South Africa’s case.

 

iv. Who are South Africa’s legal team in the genocide case against Israel? The Conversation, January
12th, 2024.

 

v. Interim Ruling on South Africa’s case against Israel, International Court of Justice, January 26th,
2024 

 

vi. ICJ delivers a stinging rebuke to Israel, The Economist, 26 January 2024

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3. ICC issues arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

i. Statement of the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan KC, International Criminal Court, May 20th, 2024

ii. The UK withdraws legal objections to the prosecution of Netanyahu and Gallant, Politico, July 26th, 2024

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iii. Israel attempts to intimidate prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, by Kenneth Roth, former
head of Human Rights Watch, The Guardian, May 29th 2024

 

iv. ICC must be allowed to carry out work ‘without intimidation’, say 93 member states, The Guardian,
June 15th, 2024

 

v. International Criminal Court, Defendant Netanyahu, ICC page detailing the charges against Benjamin
Netanyahu, accessed May 25th 2025

 

vi. ICC issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes in Gaza, Politico, November
21st 2024

 

vii. Legal background to ICC arrest warrants, Chimène Keitner, Lawfare, November 25th, 2024

 

viii. Parliamentary questions and answers on the ICC arrest warrant, Hansard, November 25th 2024 –
for those with a strong stomach.

ix. International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, Wikipedia, accessed May 25th, 2025

 

4. The United Nations decides that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

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i. “More than a human can bear”: Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of
gender-based violence since October 2023, United Nations report, March 13th, 2025
 

ii. Anatomy of a Genocide – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 to Human Rights Council – Advance unedited version
(A/HRC/55/73), United Nations, March 24th 2025
 

iii. “Stop the 21st century atrocity in Gaza”, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher Tells Security
Council, UN News, May 13th 2025.

iv. UN news updates gives daily updates on humanitarian emergencies worldwide. Currently, most
focus on Gaza.

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v. Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN commission finds United Nations press release, 16th September 2025. Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said in a new report today. The Commission urges Israel and all States to fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible for it.

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vi. Israel routinely tortures Palestinian prisoners, according to evidence heard by the UN Committee Against Torture. The full list of evidence presented to the Committee is available via the summary of findings of its 83rd session, published on November 28th 2025 (go to "session page" at the foot of the report). Of particular note is a report  by a number of Israeli human rights organisations.

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vii. Israeli forces execute two Palestinian men in Jenin after they have surrendered, November 27, 2025. The execution was caught on camera. The UN High Commission for Human Rights reports on the incident under the headline "Jenin Killings Incident"

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