The Hague Group to convene emergency meeting on 4 March 2026 to advance enforcement of international law in Palestine

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — As Israel unilaterally moves to expand its unlawful presence in the occupied West Bank through measures widely condemned as de facto annexation, South Africa and Colombia, as co-chairs of The Hague Group, will convene governments from across the world in The Hague on 4 March 2026 to advance coordinated and concrete state action to end impunity, cut complicity, and enforce international law.

Israel’s announced measures aim to alter the demographic composition, character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem — actions widely understood to violate fundamental principles of international law.

On 17 February, 85 states opposed any form of annexation and reaffirmed their commitment “to take concrete measures, in accordance with international law, and in line with the relevant UN resolutions and the 19 July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, to help realize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to counter the illegal settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation.”

Co-chaired by Colombia and South Africa, The Hague Group is a forum for coordinated state action, bringing together governments committed to the defence of international law.

Founded in January 2025, the Group has thus far has hosted over 35 states across three key conferences in The Hague, Bogotá, and New York, united in the commitment to move beyond rhetoric to concrete action and to safeguard the integrity of the international legal system. Several participating governments have proposed key measures to end impunity and began implementing their legal obligations at the national level — preventing military and dual use exports to Israel, refusing Israeli weapons transfers at ports, preventing vessels carrying weapons to Israel under national flags, reviewing public contracts to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation, pursuing justice for international crimes, and supporting universal jurisdiction to hold perpetrators accountable.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, Israel’s military operations and lethal force against civilians have continued, prompting repeated warnings from United Nations officials. As of January 2026, over 81 percent of Gaza’s structures have been damaged or destroyed, leaving approximately 1.3 million people in urgent need of shelter. Nearly the entire population of 2.1 million has been repeatedly displaced, with the majority confined to less than half the territory. More than 18,500 injured and chronically ill patients await medical evacuation for treatment unavailable in Gaza.

The 4 March 2026 meeting will focus on assessing the implementation of measures announced by several states toward fulfilling third-state obligations determined by the July 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion, ensuring accountability and no safe haven for perpetrators of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and the Crime of Aggression, and improving coordination across ports, courts, regulators, and supply chains.
Several proposals for strengthening cross-national enforcement mechanisms required to address the material enablers of genocide and war crimes are expected to be tabled.

Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Executive Secretary of The Hague Group, said:
“The ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people never ended. Israel’s assault on Gaza has not halted. Emboldened by the impunity of the last two years, Israel has now accelerated its annexation of the West Bank. If states do not act now, international law will not be worth the paper it's written on. This is a dangerous moment — and we must meet the moment with principle and courage — together.
“The focus of the 4 March 2026 meeting is simple: How do we give international law teeth? Several states have begun enforcing their legal obligations, turning rhetoric into concrete action through The Hague Group’s measures: cutting arms flows, closing ports, and pursuing accountability.”

Mauricio Jaramillo, Vice-Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, said:
“Israel is carrying out dispossession in plain sight. After Gaza, entrenching its de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank is the next step in a project of permanent occupation.
“History will judge our actions. With the law — or with impunity. With the rights of a people — or with their erasure. Colombia chooses to act.”

Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, said:
“The application of international law can no longer be selective: punitive for some and totally disregarded by others. The Hague Group exists to translate obligations that arise out of international law into coordinated state action. We invite governments of conscience — those prepared to uphold law in deed as well as word — to join us in The Hague on 4 March 2026.”

Ammar Hijazi, Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, said:
“The legal framework is not in dispute. The prohibition of annexation, the right to self-determination, and the obligations of third states are firmly established in international law.
“What is required is implementation.
“By standing up for Palestine, the Hague Group is acting on behalf of the international community to defend the law-based order, which is under threat, for the benefit of humanity. We welcome the decision of states to participate in this invaluable task and to meet in The Hague — the city of international justice.”