The United States has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it should not order the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories without security guarantees.
This came during the third day of hearings at the ICJ on the issue of a nonbinding opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation.
Other speakers for the day, Guyana and Gambia called for an end to Israeli occupation.
However, the acting legal adviser for the U.S State Department, Richard Visek, took a different approach.
Visek said, “The court should not find that Israel is legally obligated to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from occupied territory.”
“Any movement towards Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza requires consideration of Israel’s very real security needs.
“We were all reminded of those security needs on October 7, and they persist. Regrettably, those needs have been ignored by many of the participants.”
Richard Visek
Visek also urged the judges to stick to the established United Nations framework for a two-state solution.
“It is important that the court keeps in mind the balance the [UN] Security Council and the General Assembly have determined is necessary to provide the best chance for durable peace”, he said.
Moreover, Hungary, another Speaker for the day, called on the ICJ to decline to exercise its jurisdiction as its advisory opinion could “directly contribute to the escalation of the conflict.”
Hungary’s second Speaker, Gergo Kocsis, stated that rendering an advisory opinion on this matter would result in the “politicisation” of the court and could “undermine the maintenance of global peace and security.”
He added that issuing an opinion would “be tantamount to adjudicating on the Palestine-Israel question.”
He said the issue should instead be handled within the “already existing and accepted institutional architecture,” first and foremost the UN Security Council.
Iranian Foreign Minister Points Out “Diplomat Disaster Of The Century”
Also on Wednesday, Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian posted on X that the repetition of the veto of draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza by the U.S government should be called the diplomatic disaster of the century.
He said that the repeated veto clearly puts the international responsibility on the White House for the continued genocide carried out by “fake Israeli regime in Gaza and war crimes in West Bank.”
“The world must hold the U.S accountable,” he added.
The US again vetoed a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Israel’s war in Gaza that would have called for an immediate ceasefire on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
The move was the third U.S veto of a UNSC resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) also expressed its disappointment at the U.S veto.
“Whilst the US is negotiating a separate resolution text that calls for a temporary ceasefire “as soon as is practicable”, the IRC reiterates the need for an immediate and sustained ceasefire that protects the civilian population, allows unhindered access for humanitarian organizations, and facilitates the release of all hostages,” it said in a statement.
“The looming threat of an Israeli ground attack in Rafah and the dwindling of aid entering through the border with Egypt, mean that the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate day by day,” the statement noted.
It added, “People have a right to humanitarian assistance that protects life, health and dignity.”
READ ALSO: ICJ Opens Hearings On Israel’s Occupation Of Palestinian Territories
