Foreign Minister Statement in Parliament on ICJ Palestine Judgment
29.07.2024
LALIT welcomes the Statement last Tuesday by Minister Seeruttun, standing in as Foreign Affairs Minister, on the ICJ judgment that declares Israel an illegal occupier of Palestine. The statement follows the UN’s top Court Advisory Opinion of 19 July. Mauritius was one of the countries that gave oral testimony in favour of Palestine. The Minister’s full statement from Hansard 23 July can be read below. Note that he also pledges constant support for Palestine.
LALIT seizes the opportunity to re-iterate its call for Mauritius to join the South African case against Israel for genocide. Then the Minister will be as proud as he now is of having joined the case on illegal Israeli Occupation of Palestine, when, in the future, Israel’s genocide is finally put a stop to, knowing that Mauritius joined that case, too.
“STATEMENT BY MINISTER
“ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
“The Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security (Mr M. Seeruttun): Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. First of all, let me also join my colleagues in congratulating you in your appointment as Speaker of the House.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission and for the benefit the House, I would like to make a statement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The recent developments unfolding in Gaza, wherein the situation has reached an appalling level of suffering and destruction, are a matter of grave concern.
“According to recent reports, more than 38,000 Palestinians have been reportedly killed in the Gaza strip, including innocent children, and around 89,000 Palestinians have been injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel started on 07 October last year.
“According to the World Health Organisation, a multitude of attacks have been recorded in the occupied Palestinian territory since 07 October 2023 and the Palestinian health system continues to be severely overstretched.
“On Friday 19 July 2024, Israel launched an air raid against the port city of Hudaydah in Yemen in retaliation to a drone attack by the Houthis on Tel Aviv. We are dismayed by the fact that this conflict is still ongoing despite the adoption of a Resolution by the UN Security Council on 10 June 2024, urging both parties to implement a cease fire agreement without further delay.
“We reiterate our appeal to both sides to exercise restraint so as not to derail the ongoing peace talks. In parallel, we are witnessing a deplorable situation of dim prospect for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The Parliament in Israel has passed a resolution on 18 July 2024 that overwhelmingly rejected the establishment of the Palestinian State.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered a landmark advisory opinion wherein it is mentioned that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and should be ended as rapidly as possible. The International Court of Justice also expressed the opinion that and I quote –
“ ‘All states are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.’
“In its advisory opinion, the Court concludes that the State of Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful. The State of Israel is under an obligation to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as rapidly as possible. The State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory.
“The State of Israel has the obligation to make reparation for the damaged caused to all the natural or legal persons concerned in the occupied Palestinian territory. All States are under an obligation not to recognise as legal, the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“International organisations, including the United Nations, are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. The United Nations and especially the General Assembly which requested opinion and the Security Council should consider the precise modalities and further actions that are required to bring an end as rapidly as possible to the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“The House would recall that on 09 July 2024, in an answer to PQ B/571, my colleague, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, stated that on 22 February 2024, Mauritius participated in the oral hearings at the ICJ on the request for an advisory opinion pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/247. Pertaining to the question of Palestine, Mauritius took a very proactive stand on this issue and was among the 57 States which made a written submission to the ICJ.
“Mauritius has for decades lent its unflinching support to the cause of the Palestinian people. We have always called for an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. We have consistently supported the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State alongside Israel for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.
“In line with our longstanding and affirm position, Mauritius has always voted in favour of all UN Resolutions on the question of Palestine and that emphasised the importance and urgency of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the establishment of an independent State of Palestine leading (sic) side by side with Israel in line with the two-state solution.
“We, therefore, welcome and fully support the advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice. Mauritius calls for the full implementation of the ICJ advisory opinion, calls on Israel to adhere to its international obligations and to respect international law and urges the international community to fulfil its obligations in addressing Israel’s illegal practices.
“I also wish to reassure the House that Mauritius will maintain its commitment to support all initiatives at the level of the General Assembly of the United Nations that will call on Israel to unconditionally withdraw its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory in line with the advisory opinion recently delivered by the ICJ. We also firmly believe that the two-state solution is the viable option that can bring along lasting peace to the region. In this regard, Mauritius supports all initiatives to bring this enduring conflict to an end and promote the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, including our support for an immediate cease fire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance.
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir.”
Conclusion
In a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question on 9 July, Foreign Minister Gobin said, referring to the South African case, as follows: “In that case, Mr Speaker, Sir, public hearings on South Africa’s request for provisional measures were held on 11 and 12 January 2024. The ICJ delivered two orders on provisional measures, Mr Speaker, Sir, the first one on 26 January 2024 and the second one on 24 May 2024.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in line with its principled stands for the upholding of international law, Government of Mauritius supports all initiatives with the aim of upholding the respect for international law including on the question of Palestine.” We in LALIT take this to mean the Mauritian Government supports South Africa in getting the provisional measures respected, but falls short of actually joining the case, which would be a much braver position.
