Summary of Ralph Wilde's legal presentation at the International Court of Justice in defense of Palestine against Israel
Ralph Wilde is a senior counsel and advocate who represented the Arab League in the oral proceedings of the request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem2. He spoke on 26 February 2024, the last day of the hearings, and addressed two main issues:
First, he argued that Israel’s regime of racial domination over the Palestinian people across the entire land of historic Palestine constitutes apartheid, a crime against humanity under international law3. He cited various sources of evidence, such as reports by the UN and human rights organizations, to show how Israel systematically discriminates against Palestinians in various aspects of life, such as citizenship, land, movement, education, health, and justice. He also highlighted the impact of Israel’s illegal settlements, annexation plans, and the separation wall on the fragmentation and dispossession of the Palestinian population3.
Second, he argued that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967 is existentially illegal under international law3. He explained that the occupation violates the fundamental principles of self-determination, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as the rules of international humanitarian law and human rights law. He also pointed out that the occupation has become a form of colonialism, as Israel has transferred its own population and exploited the natural resources of the occupied territory. He urged the Court to affirm the illegality of the occupation and the right of the Palestinian people to exercise their sovereignty over their land3.
Find more information about the request for an advisory opinion and the oral proceedings on the website of the International Court of Justice2. You can also watch the live webstream of the hearings4 or read the legal opinion of Dr. Wilde on the illegality of the Israeli occupation5.
