Citing Overwhelming Evidence of Systematic Discrimination, Norms Violations, International Public Law Expert Discusses Critical Pending Case at The Hague\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
As more States recognize the State of Palestine and agree that it should become a full member at the United Nations, it is crucial to keep an eye on the political horizon, even amidst the current violence, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People heard today.<\/p>\n
Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, updating the Committee on the latest developments, highlighted the collective effort of the last nine months in trying to bring an end to the genocidal war against the people of Gaza. \u00a0\u201cWe did not succeed yet in having a permanent ceasefire,\u201d he said; nevertheless, a significant resolution was adopted recently, which begins with a six-week ceasefire and exchange of prisoners, detainees and hostages. \u00a0This should be the first stage of a permanent ceasefire and should lead to the total withdrawal of Israel from every part of Gaza, he said.\u00a0That text was adopted by 14\u00a0votes in favor in the Security Council with only 1\u00a0abstention, so \u201calmost by consensus\u201d, he said, asking for support from all States, especially Council members, to push for its implementation.<\/p>\n
Noting the increasing unity around the Palestinian position, he highlighted meetings with several Governments in the Caribbean in April and May, and said it led to the recognition of the State of Palestine by Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas. \u00a0Thus, all 14\u00a0countries from the Caribbean have recognized the State of Palestine, he said, adding that letters have been sent to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0Secretary-General to inform all Member States of this.\u00a0 \u201cThis wave in the Caribbean was followed by another wave in Western Europe,\u201d he said adding that this is significant because, with the exception of Sweden, there has not been recognition for the State of Palestine in that region since\u00a02011. \u00a0The second wave was led by Spain, which was followed by Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Armenia, he added.<\/p>\n
Pointing to a forthcoming trip to Asia, he said it will be focused on New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Republic of Korea. \u00a0All four of these countries voted in favour of the Assembly resolution recommending statehood for Palestine, while Japan and Republic of Korea, both Council members, voted in favour of it in the Council, as well. \u00a0If all four countries recognize the State of Palestine, it would bring the total number doing so to\u00a0149 and \u201cthat would make it more difficult for the one country that caused the veto to deny us our natural and legal right to be admitted as a Member State\u201d, he added. \u00a0From thereon, the focus will be on the political horizon, he said, adding that the increasing recognition for the State of Palestine must lead to the implementation of the global consensus on the two-State solution.<\/p>\n
Also addressing the Committee today was Paul S. Reichler, public international law expert and Counsel to the State of Palestine at the Hague.\u00a0 Stating that there are three critical pending cases related to Palestine, he noted the case brought by South Africa against Israel, as well as the International Criminal Court Prosecutor\u2019s request for arrest warrants against leaders of Israel and Hamas for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 7\u00a0October\u00a02023. \u00a0The third pending case is the one in which he is involved, he said, noting that it was initiated in December\u00a02022 by the General Assembly when it sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice concerning the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n