Cuba accuses US of aiding Israel at International Court
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently conducting hearings on the legal consequences of Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The hearings are taking place at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands.
During the hearings, representatives from various countries, including Cuba and Colombia, have spoken out against Israel’s practices in the region. Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cuba, condemned Israel’s use of force against the Palestinian people and accused the United States of complicity in these actions.
Camejo emphasized that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands is illegitimate according to international law, and called on all countries to adhere to ICJ decisions regarding the matter. She also criticized the United States for using its veto power in the UN Security Council to block effective action on Palestine.
Similarly, Andrea Jimenez Herrera, an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Colombia, urged the ICJ to make a decision against Israel’s occupation of Palestine, emphasizing the need for Israel to end its illegal activities in the region.
The ongoing hearings at the ICJ have seen participation from 52 states, including Turkey, as well as the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union. Each state and organization involved in the hearings is given a thirty-minute slot to present their views on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
The UN General Assembly had previously requested an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the matter, based on Israel’s continuous violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, its occupation, settlement and annexation activities in Palestinian lands, and its efforts to change the demographic structure of Jerusalem. The ICJ has notified UN member states and Palestine of their right to make written and oral statements on the questions raised.
While the advisory opinions given by the ICJ are not binding, they are taken into consideration by many states and organizations. Previous ICJ opinions have influenced the actions of states and organizations in relation to international law. If the ICJ’s opinion concludes that Israel’s occupation is against international law, it is likely that the pressure on Israel will increase, and countries that openly support it may be forced to reconsider their stance by the international community.
