Published: 11:54, July 21, 2024
Iran says ICJ's advisory opinion reflects global concern about Israeli ‘crimes’
By Xinhua

Judge and President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Nawaf Salam (second right) delivers a non-binding ruling on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on July 19, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s legal opinion about Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories reflected a broad "grave concern" about Israeli "crimes and acts of violation."

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement regarding an advisory opinion read out by ICJ President Judge Nawaf Salam at a public session Friday warning that Israel's actions against Palestinians, including continued occupation and construction of settlements in the Palestinian territories, have "violated international law."

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Kanaani said Israel's "genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes" in Gaza over the past months had also led to the continuation of the violation of the Palestinians' right to self-determination in an organized manner.

He called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take practical steps towards holding Israeli leaders to account and ending Israel's "aggressions against Palestinians and illegal occupation of their land."

Kanaani said the most effective way to end the "present illegal situation in the occupied Palestinian territories" was to implement Iran's "practical" idea of holding a referendum with the participation of all "main inhabitants of Palestine."

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In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Kanaani also condemned Israel's strikes on schools and educational facilities in Gaza, saying "none of such criminal actions" could make up for Israel's "strategic defeats."