The Gambia government has expressed its approval of Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that declared Israel’s ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territories illegal under international law.

President Adama Barrow, who doubles as Chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, approved The Gambia’s participation in the Advisory Opinion proceedings.

In a statement issued today (20 July), the government said The Gambia’s participation consisted of a written submission and an oral presentation, delivered by Hon. Dawda Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, during the Court’s hearing on this matter earlier this year.

“The Gambia’s written submission argued four major points, all of which were accepted by the Court: first, that Israel’s occupation is illegal because it violates the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people; second, that Israel’s occupation is illegal because it constitutes a regime of apartheid; third, that Israel’s occupation is illegal because it violates the international law governing the use of force; and fourth, that Israel’s occupation must be brought to an end immediately.

“The Court found that the ‘sustained abuse by Israel of its position as an occupying power, through annexation and an assertion of permanent control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory unlawful.’

 “It also found that ‘Israel’s legislation and measures impose and serve to maintain a near-complete separation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between the settler and Palestinian communities’, a form of physical and juridical separation that ‘constitute[s] a breach of Article 3 of CERD [Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination]’, which prohibits racial segregation and apartheid.

“The Court further found that Israel’s efforts ‘to acquire sovereignty over an occupied territory … is contrary to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations and its corollary principle of the non-acquisition of territory by force.’

“The Court determined that ‘Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible.”

The Gambia government said it welcomes this “historic and momentous ruling” from the ICJ and calls on Israel, all States, and the United Nations to abide by its findings and conclusions.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba