Ramallah:The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned Israel's establishment and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The commission declared that these settlements lack legal legitimacy and breach international humanitarian and human rights laws.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, the commission referenced advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2004 and 2024, which declared the settlements illegal. The ICJ's 2024 opinion emphasized that Israel must halt all new settlement activities, evacuate settlers, and end its unlawful presence in the occupied territories promptly.
The commission also highlighted United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 from 2016, which identified settlement construction as a blatant violation of international law.
The commission praised the increasing global focus, particularly within the United Nations, on measures aimed at preventing commercial activities in illegal settlements. It supported the prohibition of goods and services originating from these settlements and advocated for the regular updating of the United Nations database of businesses involved in settlement-related activities.
Additionally, the commission urged states not to acknowledge the illegal situation resulting from Israel's presence in the occupied territories or support its maintenance. It called for action to ensure that companies within their jurisdictions do not participate in or profit from settlement activities.
The commission called on the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms to persist in efforts to ensure adherence to international law and accountability for violations. It reaffirmed its unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.