The formation of The Hague group and the founding commitments received widespread media coverage with over a thousand news reports including: the press conference taken live on Al Jazeera with a reporter running lives and follow up coverage by the channel, British newspaper The Guardian, Indonesia’s top news site Tribun News, major Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry AlYoum, Turkish news wire Anadolu Agency, Spanish newspaper El Diario, Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Spanish news site El Debate, Algerian newspaper El Watan, Israel’s The Jerusalem Post, Pakistan’s The Express Tribune, Malaysia’s The Star, Spanish news wire Agencia EFE, Dutch newspaper NRC, Qatari tv station Alaraby, and Scotland’s The National.
“In response to efforts to what they described as attempts to challenge the ICC's authority, nine nations - including South Africa and Malaysia - launched the Hague Group last month in an effort to defend the court and its rulings.”
“The steps to be outlined by the group reflect the growing anger in the global south at what is seen as the double standards of western powers when it comes to international law.”
“The delegation said the “historical move of coordinated state action” is aimed at upholding the principles of international law and supporting “the realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”
“The group pledged to support actions such as preventing the provision or transfer of weapons to Israel and not allowing vessels they believe to be carrying weaponry to Israel to dock in their ports. They invited all states to join the group in the solemn commitment to an international order based on the rule of law.”
“It was a historic precedent, marking the first such initiative since the Nakba and the establishment of Israel to coordinate state action to prevent violations of international law committed against the Palestinian people.”
“In this crucial moment, The Hague Group sets an excellent example to other states as to how they can comply with their obligations under international law.”
“[T]his is a significant step in ensuring accountability for Israel's genocide. It shows that states from across Asia, Africa and Latin America recognize Palestine as a litmus test for international law and human rights and are ready to defend the multilateral system against efforts to replace it with a "might makes right" era promoted by the US-Israel genocidal axis.”
“Accountability is the cornerstone of justice and The Hague Group has committed itself to achieving both in Palestine in order to protect and preserve the foundations of the law-based international order. Such a principled and courageous commitment stems from the members’ profound commitment to the core values embodied in international law, which reject exceptionalism and impunity as hallmarks of lawlessness and global stability.” — The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
“[The Hague Group] is absolutely the best news that has come from a coalition of policy-makers in a long time. Let it be justice. Let's make it real. And let's keep growing.” – Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories
“Behind The Hague Group is a massive global movement of ordinary people who believe that law must prevail over bullies.” – Balakrishnan Rajagopal, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housin
