Archbishop of Canterbury says ending Israeli occupation a ‘legal and moral necessity’

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said Israel ending its occupation of Palestinian territory is a "legal and moral necessity," in a statement made on Friday which welcomed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on the matter.

In the statement, Welby said the state of Israel has been "denying the Palestinian people dignity, freedom and hope" and that other governments around the world should reaffirm their commitment to the ICJ’s decisions.

"Having visited our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters many times over recent decades, it is clear to me that the regime imposed by successive Israeli governments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of systematic discrimination," his statement continues.

Welby’s comments came after an advisory opinion by the ICJ last month found that Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories was "unlawful" and that its "near-complete separation" of people in the occupied West Bank breached international laws, labelling it "apartheid".

Welby also highlighted that Israel has for decades been annexing Palestinian land for illegal settlements, depriving Palestinian access to their natural resources, and imposing systems of military rule that denies them safety and justice.

The archbishop goes on to urge all UN member states to respond to the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion and comply with it, "and pave the way for the realisation of the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination."

The ICJ President said last month that Israel must make reparations to Palestinians for damages caused by its occupation and that other states also have a duty to not recognise Israeli occupation as legal.

While the advisory opinion is not binding, it serves as additional mounting pressure on Israel to end its war on Gaza, which has so far killed over 39,000 Palestinians.