On 29 March 2023, Al-Haq delivered a joint oral intervention under Item 7 during the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council, shedding light on Third States’ double standards in the implementation of international law with regards to Palestine, and urging Member States to take effective measures to end Israel’s illegal occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid. Al-Haq emphasised that the status quo in Palestine cannot persist, as it continues to deny Palestinians their rights to self-determination and return, and perpetuates Israel’s culture of impunity. Al-Haq called for the reconstitution of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, the annual updating of the UN Database, and the investigation into the Situation in Palestine. The joint statement also underscored the need to impose arms embargoes, economic sanctions, and countermeasures against Israel, and exercise universal jurisdiction to hold Israeli officials and perpetrators accountable in their national courts.

The full statement reads as follows:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President,

The Question of Palestine has long been regarded as a test for the effectiveness of international law. The recent aggression by Russia against Ukraine has brought to the forefront Third States’ double standards in the implementation of international law with regards to Palestine.

At a time when many States pushed for the opening of an ICC investigation into the Situation in Ukraine, and swiftly and firmly imposed countermeasures, including sanctions, against Russia, they have undermined the work of the ICC into the Situation in Palestine, and deliberately and unwillingly failed to take countermeasures to ensure an end to Israel’s illegal occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid, in a clear disregard to the universality of international law.

Mr. Vice President,

The status quo in Palestine cannot persist, as it means the continued denial of Palestinians’ rights to self-determination and return, Israel’s long enjoyed culture of impunity, and the continued absence of justice for the Palestinian people.

It is therefore crucial that Members of this Council take effective steps to bring this status quo to an end, including by supporting the reconstitution of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, the annual updating of the UN Database, and the ICC investigation into the Situation in Palestine, imposing arms embargoes, economic sanctions, and countermeasures against Israel, and exercising universal jurisdiction to hold Israeli officials and perpetrators accountable in their national courts.

Thank you.