Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Israel to 害羞草研究所渞espond substantively害羞草研究所� to the top United Nations court害羞草研究所檚 recent advisory opinion that Israel害羞草研究所檚 presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it should end.
The International Court of Justice害羞草研究所檚 non-binding opinion released last week was an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel害羞草研究所檚 rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.
Trudeau responded to the court害羞草研究所檚 advice as part of a joint statement from Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Friday, calling for the reversal of settlements in the West Bank.
The statement, released by the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office, calls on Israel to 害羞草研究所渆nsure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution.害羞草研究所�
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the non-binding opinion last week, and insisted the territories are part of the Jewish people害羞草研究所檚 historic homeland.
In written submissions, Israel said the questions put to the court fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court害羞草研究所檚 intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.
害羞草研究所淭he Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land 害羞草研究所� not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,害羞草研究所� Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office last week, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.
害羞草研究所淣o false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.害羞草研究所�
The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians害羞草研究所� right to self-determination.
It said other nations were obliged not to 害羞草研究所渞ender aid or assistance in maintaining害羞草研究所� Israel害羞草研究所檚 presence in the territories.
The statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not promise any particular action or changes to their own policies or relationships with Israel.
害羞草研究所淚srael must listen to the concerns of the international community,害羞草研究所� the statement reads.
The court害羞草研究所檚 advice was released as Israel faces increasing global criticism for the deaths and suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
害羞草研究所淭he protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end,害羞草研究所� the countries said in the statement.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said they stand behind a proposed deal outlined by United States President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
害羞草研究所淲e call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost,害羞草研究所� they said.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand say Hamas must lay down its arms and release all Israeli hostages, and that they see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza and an eventual two-state solution.
Israel害羞草研究所檚 ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said calling for a two-state solution at this time doesn害羞草研究所檛 coincide with the reality in the region or offer practical help to Palestinians.
The end of the hostilities in Gaza is contingent on Hamas releasing more than 100 hostages, laying down arms and no longer using Palestinian civilian shields, he said in a statement Friday.
害羞草研究所淚srael will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks on seven fronts, all directed by Iran through its proxies in the region,害羞草研究所� Moed said in the statement.
害羞草研究所淲e call upon Canada, as a nation that values international law and institutions that uphold it, to do all it can to prevent those who try to disrupt global order from achieving their goals.害羞草研究所�
The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.
In the joint statement, the three countriesexpressed concern about the prospect of the conflict escalating and expanding as a result of attacks on Israel by Iran and the Houthis, and the unstable and increasingly hostile situation at the Lebanese border between Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
