Spain welcomes ICJ advisory opinion on Israel's obligations as occupying power in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Spain welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in response to the request of the United Nations General Assembly on Israel's obligations as a member of the United Nations and as the occupying power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The opinion includes important statements by the Court on Israel's obligations as a member of the United Nations and as an occupying power in the Palestinian territory, such as the obligation to cooperate fully with the Organisation and to respect its pri​vileges and immunities; its obligations under international humanitarian law, which include ensuring humanitarian assistance, facilitating the work of the United Nations, including UNRWA, protecting humanitarian and medical personnel, respecting the prohibition on the use of starvation as a weapon of war and the prohibition on forcible displacement of populations.

Spain has participated in the written and oral phases of this advisory procedure, in which it has defended the need to respect the the United Nations Charter, which includes the obligation to cooperate with the United Nations, including UNRWA, and to respect international law, including international humanitarian law, in order to facilitate humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Government urges the international community to take into consideration the conclusions of the opinion and to adopt the appropriate measures in this regard.