UN General Assembly vote: Australia must uphold international law and defend international justice

18 September 2024

As the UN General Assembly prepares to vote tonight on a resolution aimed at ending Israel's unlawful occupation, Amnesty International Australia calls on the Australian Government to use its influence to uphold international law and protect Palestinians human rights. In voting on the resolution, the Australian Government must ensure it complies with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion. This includes halting the transfer and sale of weapons, parts, and ammunition.

In July, the ICJ issued an Advisory Opinion found that Israel's occupation and annexation of the Palestinian Territory is unlawful, and its discriminatory laws and policies against Palestinians violate the prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. The ICJ ruling demands member states including Australia not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel's illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

"Israel must not be allowed to ignore demands from the ICJ or trample on international law any longer and the Australian Government has a responsibility to use its influence the General Assembly to uphold international law and protect Palestinians human rights,"

Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International's Occupied Palestinian Territory spokesperson

"Australia and other states must and cannot accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court neither in this nor any other situation."

"The longer impunity prevails for Israel as it commits war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the greater risk that international law and the Geneva Conventions, which were created to preserve and guarantee our common humanity, become irrelevant."

"The Australian Government must uphold international law, defend international justice and restore faith in the international rules-based order by demanding Israel comply with the International Court of Justice's ruling," says Mohamed Duar.

Amnesty International Australia calls on the government to ensure Australia works with the international community to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation, starting with immediately halting of the expansion of Israeli settlements and reversing the annexation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and dismantling its brutal system of apartheid against Palestinians.

"The International Court of Justice's advisory opinion in July was a historic vindication of the rights of Palestinians who have endured decades of cruelty and systematic human rights violations stemming from Israel's unlawful occupation and Australia must defend the rules-based order."

"Ending the occupation is crucial in order to stop the recurrent pattern of human rights violations across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory," says Mohamed Duar.

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