Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has welcomed this afternoon’s landmark ruling of the International Court of Justice which has confirmed the illegality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of Palestinian territories.

Ms McDonald said:

“Today’s ruling marks the first time that the International Court of Justice has delivered an opinion of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“The court has judged the occupation to be illegal and was damning in its judgement of Israel’s policies and practices towards the Palestinian people in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

“Israel’s brutal occupation has gone on for nearly six decades. It’s an occupation sustained by apartheid, annexation, ethnic cleansing, the daily trampling of Palestinian human rights and the denial of Palestinian freedom.

“The ICJ landmark ruling intensifies the legal and moral responsibility of the international community to help bring the occupation to an end. Arming and providing political cover for Israel, as it commits war crimes, flies in the face of that objective.

“This judgement comes against the horrific backdrop of Israel’s continuing slaughter and decimation of Palestinian life in Gaza. A massacre of men, women and children, broadcast to the world in real time, every day since last October.

“It’s clear that Israel must be forced by the international community to end the slaughter and return to the table of dialogue and peace.

“This must mean an end to Israel’s impunity and for sanctions that increase pressure for an immediate and full ceasefire.

“The Irish government can play a strong role in exerting this pressure by following up recognition of the Palestinian state and finally enacting the Occupied Territories Bill and the Israeli Illegal Settlement Divestment Bill.

“The only thing that can transform this situation is the revival of a peace process grounded in international law and with the aim of achieving freedom and a Palestinian state.”