Indonesia Supports Palestine by Taking Israel to ICJ Court

Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi will deliver an oral statement in support of the Advisory Opinion (AO) from the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's occupation of Palestine on February 19, 2024.

This is in response to the request from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"Indonesia is preparing legal arguments for the ICJ session to address the occupation of Israeli genocide in Palestine," the Minister said as quoted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday.

The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, will hold a public hearing on February 19, 2024, in The Hague, where the involved parties, including Indonesia represented by the Foreign Ministry is scheduled to present its PoVs on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation in the Palestinian territory.

The ICJ will ultimately issue non-binding advisory opinions for the UN General Assembly, which adopted a resolution requesting such opinions in December 2022, before the recent escalation in Israel that resulted in the death of over 24,000 Palestinians and displacement of around 1.9 million people.

"Indonesia supports the efforts of the General Assembly to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ because international law must be upheld," Minister Marsudi said ahead of discussions with theme "Advisory Opinion at the International Court of Justice: Efforts to Support Palestinian Independence through the Enforcement of International Law" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Jakarta.

She emphasized the need to build a comprehensive legal opinion to demonstrate to the world Israel's blatant violations of international law against Palestine.

Minister Marsudi also explained that Tel Aviv's annexation of Palestinian territories, settlements in the West Bank, and the decision to change the status of Jerusalem as illegal actions.

"Our discussions today not only support Indonesian diplomacy but also uphold global order according to international law and support our brothers and sisters in Palestine to achieve their independence," the Minister remarked.

As known for years, Indonesia has supported Palestine, with its people and government viewing Palestinian statehood as mandated by the country's constitution, which calls for the elimination of colonialism.

The February ICJ session differs from the case recently filed by South Africa, accusing Israel of engaging in "acts of genocide" in Gaza.

"Although, we are not a party to the Genocide Convention, Indonesia has expressed its support for South Africa in reporting Israel's viol ations of the Genocide Convention to the ICJ," she said.

"The main point of all Indonesian efforts is to find every possible way to continue supporting the struggle of Palestine," she added.

International legal experts present discussed various Israeli policies and actions related to prolonged occupation, illegal settlements, and annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, efforts to alter the demographic composition, character, and legal status of Jerusalem, as well as Israel's violations and the right of the Palestinian people to determine their own destiny.