Gathering International Law Experts to Discuss the Palestinian Problem, Foreign Minister Retno: Israel's Actions Must Be Stopped

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi ensured that diplomatic efforts to support Palestine would continue, emphasizing that Israel's actions must be stopped, while holding a discussion with international law experts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday.

The UN General Assembly is known to have requested legal advice from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding the legal consequences of Israel's policies and actions in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

The ICJ then invited UN member countries to provide input on legal views, including Indonesia, which from the start was active in helping provide input on legal views to the ICJ.

After written input is submitted to the ICJ in July 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno will next give an oral statement at the ICJ located in The Hague, Netherlands on, February 19.

"Even though it is not yet a party to the Genocide Convention, Indonesia has provided support to South Africa to complain about Israel's violations of the Genocide Convention at the ICJ," said Foreign Minister Retno when opening an expert discussion entitled "Advisory Opinion at the International Court of Justice: Efforts to Support Palestinian Independence through Enforcement of International Law" at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, January 16.

"The essence of everything Indonesia does is to look for all possible ways to continue providing support for the struggle of the Palestinian people," continued Foreign Minister Retno.

Foreign Minister Retno further said that this meeting was important to listen to input from international law experts regarding the basis and principles of international law that Israel's violations are unacceptable.

He said that the views and input of international law experts were needed to build a legal opinion that was comprehensive and in accordance with international law, to show the world the blatant violations of international law committed by Israel against Palestine.

"Indonesia supports the General Assembly's efforts to obtain an advisory opinion from the Court, because international law must be upheld," stressed Foreign Minister Retno.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs added that the Palestinian people's right to self-determination must be respected. The Israeli occupation of Palestine, which has been going on for more than 70 years, will not eliminate the Palestinian people's right to independence.

Various Israeli policies such as the annexation of Palestinian territories, settlements in the West Bank, and changing the status of the City of Jerusalem are invalid according to international law.

"Illegal actions by Israel must stop, and accountability for the legal violations that occur," she stressed.

"Countries must provide support to Palestine. The international community, including the UN must also not recognize the legality of Israel's actions," stressed Foreign Minister Retno.

It is known that this discussion featured panelists who were international law experts, such as Prof. Dr. Eddy Pratomo SH, MA; Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana SH, LL.M, Ph.D; Prof. Dr. Sigit Riyanto SH, LL.M and Dr. Enny Narwati SH, MH.