ICJ's ruling against Israel: Gap between law and reality never been wider, says EU's foreign policy chief

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Never before has the gap between the law and what happens on the ground been so wide, EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday said in response to the International Court of Justice's last Friday verdict on Israel's occupation and attacks on Palestinian territories.

“Never before what the law says and what happens on the ground has been so insurmountable, and all this under the watchful eye of a powerless international community,” Josep Borrell said at a press conference following a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

“So today there is no cease-fire, there is no plan for Gaza, there is no revival of the global settlement. On the contrary, there is a continuation of military operations in Gaza, and it's becoming banal to say today, tomorrow and yesterday and the day tomorrow,” that tens of thousands have been killed by bombs and hostages have yet to be released, he said.

Stressing that the EU should take more tangible and resolute steps to support the revival of a peace process between Palestine and Israel based on a two-state solution, Borrell remarked, “It is clear that the advice of the International Court of Justice is the occupation of the West Bank is illegal and it has to end. And Israel has to withdraw from these territories.”

The recent ICJ opinion, in response to a 2022 request by the UN General Assembly, said Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank is "unlawful" and should be brought to an end "as rapidly as possible."

It said Israel should cease new settlement activities, and evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.