What Occupation Means Under International Law
End the Occupation is one of the most common slogans at Palestine solidarity events, and it is not just a political phrase. Occupation is a defined concept in international law, with clear rules about what an occupying power may and may not do. Understanding those rules explains why so many governments, courts and human rights bodies describe Israel's control of Palestinian territory as unlawful.
The territory in question is the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, all occupied by Israel since the 1967 war.
What counts as occupation
Under the 1907 Hague Regulations, territory is considered occupied when it is placed under the authority of a hostile army. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 then sets out obligations to protect the civilian population. An occupation is meant to be temporary, and the occupying power is not allowed to annex the territory or change its demographic character.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. This is the main legal basis for the widespread view that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal.
What courts and the UN have said
In 2004 the International Court of Justice found that the separation wall built inside the West Bank was contrary to international law. In 2016 UN Security Council Resolution 2334 stated that settlements have no legal validity. In July 2024 the Court went further in an advisory opinion, finding that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and should end as rapidly as possible, and that settlement activity must stop. The UN General Assembly then demanded that the occupation end within twelve months.
These rulings do not enforce themselves, but they set out the legal standard against which governments, companies and investors can be held to account.
Why the slogan matters
When people wear End the Occupation, they are pointing to that legal standard. It is a call for international law to be applied, not an abstract demand. Our guide to Palestinian symbols on clothing explains the other messages and symbols you will see at events.
Browse Palestine t-shirts or the full collection, and see our where to donate page for organisations supporting people living under occupation.
FAQ
+Which territories are occupied?
The West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, occupied by Israel since 1967.
+Are Israeli settlements illegal?
Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and according to the UN Security Council and the International Court of Justice, settlements in occupied territory have no legal validity.
+What did the ICJ decide in July 2024?
In an advisory opinion, the Court found Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful and said it should end as rapidly as possible.
