Turkey to Submit Filing to ICJ on Palestine

The statement responds to a Dec. 19, 2024, U.N. General Assembly request for an ICJ advisory opinion on "the obligations of the State of Israel regarding the presence and activities of the U.N., other international organizations, and third states."

Turkey’s Embassy in The Hague is set to deliver the statement later Thursday, according to diplomatic sources.

The sources noted that Turkey co-sponsored the U.N. resolution that initiated the process, which was led by Norway. The deadline for submitting written statements is Feb. 28.

Turkey’s filing highlights three key issues: the responsibilities of U.N. member states, the privileges and immunities of the U.N., and the obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement underscores that the U.N. Charter outlines member states’ responsibilities, including resolving disputes peacefully, refraining from threats or use of force, and complying with binding U.N. Security Council resolutions.

It also emphasizes the obligation to cooperate with the U.N. in maintaining international peace and security.

On the U.N.’s privileges and immunities, the statement stresses that international law grants legal protections to U.N. agencies, facilities, assets, and personnel.

These protections are essential for U.N. bodies to operate independently and effectively, free from interference by host states or external actors, it says.

The statement cites the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, to which Israel is a party, as the legal foundation for these immunities.

Regarding the obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories, the statement says Israel must respect the presence and operations of the U.N., international organizations, and third states providing humanitarian and development aid.

The statement also addresses the legal basis of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), saying Israel’s move to ban its activities lacks legal standing.

Turkey argues that Israel’s continued violations of international law—blocking humanitarian aid, targeting U.N. facilities, and harassing international personnel—undermine the foundations of the international legal order.