Today, the United States (US) administration plans to release the so-called “Deal of the Century” or “Peace Plan”. While Al-Haq has not yet examined the details of the plan, we reaffirm our position that any plan or project aiming towards an effective and sustainable solution must be grounded in international law and justice – principles that must be confirmed in: an end to Israel’s prolonged occupation; the genuine realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, lands, and property; addressing the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and countering annexation; as well as putting an end to Israel’s institutionalised regime of systematic racial domination and oppression over the Palestinian people as a whole, as amounting to apartheid.

The proposed US plan not only flouts international law, but also normalizes and imposes the principle of “might over right”, sustaining Israel’s colonization of Palestine. In light of this, we reiterate our call to the international community to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the primacy of international law and the enforcement of relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on the inalienable rights of Palestinians. The international community must stop rewarding Israel’s regime of oppression and domination and its prolonged occupation and colonisation for the continued commission of grave breaches and suspected international crimes against the Palestinian people. To this end, all accountability mechanisms must be activated to ensure an end to the pervasive cycle of impunity for widespread and systemic human rights violations. In the context of over seven decades of an ongoing Nakba, third States must finally take decisive action to guarantee international justice and accountability, including by imposing sanctions on Israel until it complies with its obligations under international law.

Al-Haq reiterates its calls on the Palestinian Authority and all relevant Palestinian officials to continue to reject any form of plan or agreement that is not founded on international law, in particular the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and permanent sovereignty, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees. Moreover, Al-Haq repeats its calls for an end to the state of internal political division; to strengthen the ability of Palestinians to oppose and effectively challenge Israel’s suspected crimes, and to guarantee the space for peoples’ participation in a free and democratic society.