Intervention by Minister Mauro Vieira at the Roundtable on International Law in the context of the High-Level Meeting on the Two-State Solution

Excellencies,

Brazil co-chaired, with Senegal, the Roundtable 7 on promoting respect for International Law.

The ordeal Palestinians face stands as a test to our collective commitment to international law, humanitarian law, and human rights.

When confronted with credible allegations of genocide, invoking International Law is not enough. We must enforce it with resolve.

Last year, the International Court of Justice laid out clear guidelines on how States must fulfill their obligations regarding the unlawful occupation of Palestine. They include:

Not recognizing the unlawful situation created by Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

Differentiating, in all dealings with Israel, between its territory and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

Refraining from any actions that may aid or contribute to maintaining occupation; and

Ensuring respect for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Guided by the Court’s opinion, Working Group 7 formulated three questions to inform Member States’ actions:

First, what actions can States adopt to comply with and promote compliance with international law?

Second, what accountability mechanisms can be activated to address relevant unlawful actions, policies, and practices, and to ensure reparation?

Third, what preventive measures can be taken against illegal unilateral actions undermining the viability of the two-State solution?

We received over 50 submissions from multiple stakeholders. These inputs generated 96 concrete proposals, grouped into five areas: diplomatic and political; arms trade; economic; accountability and reparation; and monitoring.

The following stood out:

- Recognizing the State of Palestine and supporting its admission as a full UN Member.

- Upholding the legal distinction between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

- Opposing annexation and settlement expansion.

- Ensuring protection for humanitarian workers, including UNRWA staff.

- Supporting civil society and human rights defenders.

- Imposing targeted sanctions against violent settlers and lawful countermeasures to grave violations.

Excellencies,

These are lawful actions that States can take now. The credibility of the international legal order depends on its non-selective application.

What is now needed is the political will and a robust follow-up process to this Conference.

Let’s turn law into action, and action into justice and peace.

Thank you.