The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has urged Israel to take “concrete steps” to stop expanding settlements and crack down on extremist settler violence after the international court of justice’s (ICJ) ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
The court’s historic, albeit non-binding reading, handed down on Friday, found multiple breaches of international law by Israel, including activities that amounted to apartheid.
It ordered Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories “as rapidly as possible” and make full reparations for its “internationally wrongful acts”, in a sweeping and damning advisory opinion that says the occupation violates international law.
In a statement published to X on Saturday, Wong said the Albanese government had been “firm and consistent” that settlement activity was illegal under international law and a “significant obstacle” to peace.
She called for concrete steps from Israel to respond to “extremist settler activity”, while adding the federal government was “carefully considering” detail of the opinion to understand “conclusions reached”.
“We respect the independence of the court and its critical role in upholding international law and the rules-based order,” her statement read.
“We are carefully considering the detail of the ICJ opinion to fully understand the conclusions reached.”
Wong said the Australian government had “made clear” that anyone identified as an extremist settler would be denied a visa to travel to Australia.
“A just and enduring peace will require the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination to be realised,” her statement read.
“We want to see concrete steps taken by Israel to cease the expansion of settlements and to respond to extremist settler activity.”
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network welcomed the overnight ruling by the ICJ, which concluded Israel was forcibly dispossessing Palestinians of their lands, amounting to an annexation of large parts of occupied territory.
Its president, Nasser Mashni, had urged the federal government to support the ICJ ruling and take concrete steps to sanction Israel, including severing trade ties and recalling the Australian ambassador.
“The ICJ has no enforcement powers of its own, and it is now up to the international community – that is, governments – to pressure Israel to dismantle its apartheid regime and its illegal settlements, put an end to decades of systemic oppression, and restore justice for Palestinians,” he said.
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“This ruling leaves no room for equivocation or compromise – Australia must stand firmly and take urgent and decisive steps to hold Israel accountable, including robust diplomatic measures and sanctions.
“Anything less would be a betrayal of this government’s commitment to justice and international law.”
The New Israel Fund Australia said it had warned for many years that Israel couldn’t maintain its status as a liberal democracy while simultaneously maintaining a military occupation.
“It is possible to invest in peace and security instead of occupation,” it said.
The federal government has been consistent in its backing of a two-state solution but has given no hint of when it would be prepared to recognise a Palestinian state.
Its stance prompted former Labor senator Fatima Payman to cross the floor to side with the Greens last month on a motion declaring an urgent need “for the Senate to recognise the state of Palestine”. Payman subsequently resigned from the party.
Wong had unsuccessfully sought to amend the motion’s wording to specify that recognition of Palestine could occur “as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace”.