Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Talks About Palestine at ICJ on February 23, 2024

Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is scheduled to deliver an oral statement regarding the issue of Palestine before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague, Netherlands, on February 23, 2024.

The hearing is held by the ICJ to address issues regarding the status and legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“This hearing is a follow-up to the request for an advisory opinion from the UN General Assembly,” said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the social media platform X, quoted in Jakarta on Sunday.

Indonesia is among the 53 countries and three international organizations scheduled to deliver oral statements during the ICJ session held from February 19 to 26, 2024.

To prepare Indonesia’s oral statement, Foreign Minister Retno has gathered input from international law experts through discussions titled “Advisory Opinion at the International Court of Justice: Efforts to Support Palestinian Independence through International Law Enforcement” in Jakarta, in mid-January.

According to Retno, the views and inputs of experts are needed to build a comprehensive legal opinion to demonstrate to the world the violations of international law committed by Israel.

“Indonesia supports the efforts of the UN General Assembly to obtain an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. International law must be upheld,” she said.

Retno emphasized that the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination must be respected.

“The Israeli occupation of Palestine, which has lasted for more than 70 years, will not erase the Palestinian people’s right to independence,” said the Foreign Minister.

Previously, the UN General Assembly requested an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

This request was submitted by the General Assembly to the ICJ on January 17, 2023.

In response to this request, Indonesia had decided from the outset to actively participate in providing legal input and views to the ICJ.

Indonesia’s input consists of two parts: a written statement that was submitted to the ICJ in July 2023 and the oral statement that Foreign Minister Retno will deliver on February 23, 2024.

The Foreign Minister stated that various Israeli policies such as the annexation of Palestinian territories, settlements in the West Bank, and changing the status of Jerusalem City are invalid according to international law.

She emphasized that Israel’s unlawful actions must be stopped and there must be accountability for the violations of law that occur.

Retno also called on countries to stop supporting Israel, and the international community, including the UN, should not recognize the legality of Israel’s actions.

“Indonesia’s appearance before the International Court of Justice will complement various diplomatic efforts by Indonesia to support Palestine,” said the Foreign Minister.

Source: ANTARA