Al-Haq welcomes the resolution by the Brussels Parliament, on 3 February 2025, placing an arms embargo and trade restrictions on Israel, in fulfilment of the recommendations of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) finding Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) to be unlawful, and as measures in response to Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza, in breach of jus cogens norms of international law. The resolution was transmitted to the European Commission, the newly appointed European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas and to the Belgian Federal Government.

The resolution urges the Government of the “Brussels Region-Capital” to:

• Pause all arms exports to Israel, including military equipment and dual-use objects, referring to the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/ES-10/24 of 18 September 2024, which implemented the Advisory Opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 19 July 2025;
• Stop granting funding to companies that “participate in the colonisation of Palestine, as well as enterprises that have partnerships with the Israeli army and other organisms participating in the Israeli war effort”;
• Assign the Brussels-Capital Region’s economic mission to cease all collaboration with the firms listed in the United Nations Database on companies involved in Israeli settlement activities and to not cooperate with companies working with the Israeli Occupying Force (IOF).

In the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem Advisory Opinion, the ICJ affirmed that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory breaches Israel’s erga omnes obligation enshrined in peremptory norms of international law, namely the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and the prohibition against the acquisition of territory through use of force, and the prohibition of racial discrimination. As a result, the Court recalled that all States must refrain from recognising as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the OPT as well as rendering aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such a presence. In particular, the Court found that States must “abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the [OPT] or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory”. The Court also recalled the obligation of State parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure respect by Israel for international humanitarian law (IHL). Notably, IHL provides that, in case “of serious violations of the Conventions or of this Protocol, the High Contracting Parties undertake to act, jointly or individually […]”.

Despite the announcement of a cease-fire on 19 January 2025, Al-Haq reiterates that this is not tantamount to an end to the genocide, especially in light of the intensification by Israel of its genocidal and colonial violence in the West Bank, including in Jenin and Tulkarem, and Israel’s continued infliction of conditions not compatible with human survival in Gaza. As long as the root causes are not properly addressed and Israel’s settler colonial regime is dismantled, the obligations of Third States remain.

Al-Haq calls on all States to adopt sanctions against Israel, including severing diplomatic and economic ties, enacting and enforcing two-way arms embargos. In addition, Al-Haq calls on all States to prohibit companies under their jurisdiction from participating in activities linked to Israel’s unlawful occupation and settlement enterprise.