Israel’s occupation of Gaza City violates international law: Report

Legal experts have said Israel’s decision to occupy Gaza city violates international humanitarian law and Palestinians' right to self-determination, Andalou Agency reported on Tuesday.

Professor Heidi Matthews, who teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Canada, and Emeritus professor Martin Shaw, who teaches international relations and politics at the University of Sussex in the UK, told the publication that Israel's existing and proposed violations could be stopped by pressure from third states.

Matthews told Andalou: “Any plans to take over parts or all of Gaza would be in contravention also of the rule against the violent acquisition of territory as well.

"Obviously that's a peremptory norm of international law. It's one of the most important foundational norms of the post-World War II international order, that states are not permitted to violently acquire and expand their own territory,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shaw told Andalou that Israel's occupation of Gaza is illegal, it is currently committing war crimes in the strip, perpetrating a genocid and any new operations in Gaza City - including the forcible expulsion of people - would "constitute further violations and aggravate the ongoing crimes”.

“Certainly there is a case for international intervention to stop Israel’s crimes, but it is not easy to see who would carry this out,' he added.