• Dhaka welcomes ICJ opinion underscoring Israel’s duty not to use starvation of civilians as warfare

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of draft laws aimed at imposing what it calls “Israeli sovereignty” over occupied territories in the West Bank of Palestine, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry said Friday.

“Israel continues its unlawful occupation through the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, in blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334,” the ministry said.

Bangladesh, which does not recognize Israel, reaffirmed that “Israel has no sovereignty over any part of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.”

The Knesset vote on Wednesday
occurred despite opposition from US President Donald Trump, who said last month he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. The vote also came as US Vice President JD Vance is visiting Israel.

Annexation would effectively end the possibility of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as endorsed by the UN.

Palestinian officials say Israeli attacks across the West Bank since October 2023 have killed more than 1,056 people, injured 10,300, and led to more than 20,000 detentions.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Bangladesh also welcomed the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, issued on Oct. 22, which underscores Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of warfare.

The remarks came after the world court ruled Wednesday that Israel must allow and facilitate relief schemes by third states and impartial humanitarian groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), to ensure that sufficient aid reaches the Gaza Strip.