The role of international law in the management of the Israel-Palestine conflict: Implications for world order and international relations in the 21st century

Main Article Content

Oscar Martín-Pinto

Abstract

This text seeks to examine the role of international law in mediating the conflict between Israel and Palestine, investigating how global legal principles connect with diplomatic interactions around the world. The main objective is to analyze the extent to which nations and non-governmental actors involved in the conflict comply with or violate the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as the impact of these actions on the balance and functioning of current international relations. The study implements a qualitative approach focused on documentary and comparative methods. International conventions, decisions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, pronouncements of the International Criminal Court, reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and recent diplomatic statements from key powers such as the United States, China, Iran, and several members of the European Union will be reviewed. The analysis seeks to highlight the discrepancies between the ideals of international law and the existing realities of the international political landscape. It is suggested that diplomatic positions adopted by States are often based more on strategic interests than on legal grounds. As a preliminary result, it is postulated that, although international law offers clear guidance for the defense of civilians and the peaceful resolution of disputes, its actual implementation depends on the political will of nations and the configuration of power at the time. The conflict between Israel and Palestine serves as a revealing example of the structural limitations of international law in the face of the geopolitical interests of the most influential powers.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Martín-Pinto, O. (2025). The role of international law in the management of the Israel-Palestine conflict: Implications for world order and international relations in the 21st century. RES NON VERBA Scientific Journal, 15(2), 49–67. https://doi.org/10.21855/resnonverba.v15i2.1111
Section
Artículos
Author Biography

Oscar Martín-Pinto, Universidad Americana de Europa

Profesional en Educación Básica. Posee cuatro másteres en: Educación Especial, Orientación Educativa y Familiar, Arte y arqueología, y Relaciones Internacionales, mención conflicto armado. Estudiante de doctorado en Educación. Se desempeña como docente e investigador de la Facultad de Educación en la Universidad Americana de Europa.

References

Akram Smith, M. (2023). The Palestine question and the International Criminal Court: Between law and politics. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 499–522.

Akram, S. (2023). The Palestine question and the International Criminal Court: Between law and politics. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 456-492.

Alston, P. (2023). International Law, Structural Inequality and the Palestine Question. European Journal of International Law, 677–699.

Ben-Naftali, O., & Michaeli, M. (2024). Legitimizing Violence: Legal Discourses and Asymmetry in the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Human Rights Quarterly, 51–77.

Cervell Hortal , M. J. (2022). La opinión consultiva de la CIJ sobre el muro y su relevancia actual. Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales, 94-132.

Charountaki, M. E., & Mustafa Enfan, G. (2024). Great powers, the UN Security Council and the politics of the veto: Implications for the Israel–Palestine conflict. Global Policy, 59-82.

de Waal, A. (2023). The Israel-Palestine conflict and the limits of international law. Third World Quarterly, 1820–1836.

Delgado, I. (2024). El Derecho Internacional como herramienta política en conflictos asimétricos: una lectura crítica desde Palestina. Revista Latinoamericana de Derecho Internacional, 155–174.

Escribano Úbeda-Portugués, J. (2022). El estatuto internacional de Palestina y los límites de la acción multilateral. Anuario Español de Derecho Internacional, 217–242.

Falk, R. (2022). The UN and the Palestine question: A legitimacy crisis. Third World Quarterly, 765-792.

Gómez Isa, F. (2023). La (in)eficacia del Derecho Internacional frente al conflicto en Palestina: entre la norma y la política. Anuario de Derechos Humanos, 89–106.

González Vega, J. A. (2023). El derecho de veto en el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU: entre la inercia institucional y la necesidad de reforma. Revista Española de Derecho Internacional, 43-88.

López Becerra, R. (2024). Comisiones de la verdad y derecho internacional: lecciones para un modelo transicional en Palestina. Revista Iberoamericana de Justicia Transicional, 133–152.

Martínez, L. A. (2023). Derecho internacional y conflicto armado: Un análisis jurídico del caso Israel-Palestina. Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales , 1–23.

Mégret, F. (2024). The Role of the International Criminal Court in the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 34–52.

Mora Lázaro, M. (2021). El conflicto palestino-israelí y el papel del Consejo de Seguridad: un análisis desde el derecho internacional público. CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, 65-88.

Nollkaemper, A. (2023). The Rule of Law in Global Governance: Between Legalism and Realpolitik. Journal of International Dispute Settlement, 145–168.

O'Mahony, J. (2023). International humanitarian law and the Israel–Palestine conflict: Normative strength versus enforcement weakness. International Review of the Red Cross, 1217–1239.

Peters, A. (2023). Reforming the UN Security Council: Legal Perspectives and Political Realities. European Journal of International Law, 1–25.

Quigley, J. (2022). Palestine at the United Nations: The enduring limits of international law. Leiden Journal of International Law, 987–1005.

Quigley, J. (2022). Palestine at the United Nations: The enduring limits of international law. Leiden Journal of International Law, 610-634.

Rajagopal, B. (2023). International Law as a Site of Struggle: The Israel-Palestine Conflict and Legal Disempowerment. Third World Legal Journal, 112–130.

Rivera, J. M. (2023). La jurisdicción universal como herramienta de justicia internacional: posibilidades y límites en el caso palestino. Revista Colombiana de Derecho Internacional, 87–109.

Ruíz, M. C. (2023). El uso estratégico del Derecho Internacional por actores estatales y no estatales en el conflicto israelí-palestino. Revista de Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad, 89–106.

Shany, Y. (2023). The Lawfare of Occupation: Israel, the ICC, and the Strategic Use of International Law. Israel Law Review, 211–233.