China stated that Palestinians have the right to "resort to armed struggle against Israeli occupation," during a session at the International Court of Justice. The comments were made by Ma Xinmin, the legal advisor to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on Thursday, the fourth day of hearings before the court concerning a request for an advisory opinion on Israel's policies in the occupied territories.
The Chinese official stated, "In seeking the right to self-determination, the Palestinian people have the right to use force to resist foreign oppression and to complete the establishment of a Palestinian state." Ma cited examples of "various peoples who liberated themselves from colonial rule through armed resistance," clarifying his viewpoint that "violent acts against Israelis by Palestinians are not terrorism, but rather a legitimate armed struggle."
He continued before the International Court of Justice: "Many other resolutions recognize the legitimacy of struggle by all means available, including armed struggle by peoples under colonial control or foreign occupation to achieve the right to self-determination."
In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly requested the court, also known as the World Court, to issue a non-binding opinion regarding the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The court was not requested to provide an opinion on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories, but many countries participating in the hearings called for Israel to withdraw its forces.
In written comments, Israel, which did not participate in the hearings, stated that the court's intervention could harm reaching a negotiated settlement. More than 50 countries will present their arguments until Monday.
