Fact Check: Misleading video claims International Court of Justice declared Israel an illegal state
Know the truth about viral video
Bengaluru: A video circulating widely on social media platforms, particularly in local groups, is falsely claiming that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared Israel an illegal state and decided that it should no longer be recognized as a sovereign nation.
The video, which shows Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al Maliki speaking, has sparked discussion and confusion online. However, the reality behind the video and its context is quite different.
The Origin of the Video:
The video in question is not new. It dates back to July 2024 and features a press briefing by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al Maliki. In the video, Maliki describes a decision made by the ICJ as a "watershed moment for Palestine, for justice, and for international law." The video has now been repurposed with misleading claims that the ICJ has declared Israel an illegal state and that justice has prevailed for Palestine.
What the ICJ Actually Said:
The ICJ's decision in July 2024 did not declare Israel an illegal state or call for it to be unrecognized as a sovereign nation. Instead, the court's opinion focused on Israel's presence in the Palestinian-occupied territories.
The ICJ ruled that Israel's occupation of these territories is "unlawful" under international law and called for an immediate end to settlement construction, as well as the removal of existing settlements.
The court cited numerous Israeli policies as violations of international law, including the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the exploitation of natural resources in these areas, and discriminatory practices against Palestinians. The ICJ stated that Israel has no right to sovereignty over these territories, which it occupied 57 years ago, and that its actions are impeding Palestinians' right to self-determination.
The Broader Context:
The ICJ's opinion was requested by the United Nations General Assembly following a Palestinian request and came in the context of escalating violence in the region. The decision coincided with Israel's military operations in Gaza, which had been triggered by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2024.
In his briefing, Maliki emphasized that other nations have a responsibility to uphold the ICJ's findings, stating that no actions should be taken to support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. He called for the international community to recognize the obligations outlined by the court and act accordingly.
Israel's Response:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had then condemned the ICJ's opinion, which, while nonbinding, carries significant weight in international law. Netanyahu argued that the territories in question are part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people and dismissed the court's findings as biased. D
Misleading Claims and Their Impact:
The video being circulated with false claims about Israel's status has the potential to mislead and inflame tensions. The ICJ's ruling was a legal opinion focused on specific actions taken by Israel in the occupied territories, not a blanket declaration on Israel's sovereignty or its status as a state. It is essential for viewers to be aware of the context and content of the ICJ's decision to avoid being misled by altered or misrepresented videos.
While the ICJ did issue a critical opinion regarding Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, it did not declare Israel an illegal state or call for its international derecognition. The video being circulated with these claims is misleading and does not accurately reflect the court's decision.
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Modi govt not listening to anyone: Rahul flags functional problems of OSCs for women
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday flagged problems related to the Centre's One Stop Centres (OSCs) that are intended to support women affected by violence and claimed that the "Modi government is not listening to anyone".
Gandhi asserted that safety is not merely a scheme; it is a fundamental responsibility of the government.
"Women are knocking on doors for help, yet the government has kept those doors shut. I asked in Parliament: When a woman flees violence and reaches a One Stop Centre (OSC) - why does she not receive help? Why does she find the doors locked instead? Why is there a shortage of staff? Why are complaints from across the country going unheard?" Gandhi said in a post on his WhatsApp channel.
"What was the government's response? That everything is 'satisfactory'. If everything is indeed 'satisfactory', then why are reports of so many problems regarding OSCs continuing to surface?" he said.
If safety is a priority, why is help still failing to reach three out of every five women, Gandhi asked.
"And why is only 60 paise out of every Rs 100 allocated to the Ministry of Women and Child Development being spent on OSCs?" the former Congress chief said.
"Safety is not merely a scheme; it is a fundamental responsibility of the government. Dismissing everything as 'satisfactory' does not ensure safety; it merely demonstrates that the Modi government is not listening to anyone," Gandhi said.
In his question in Lok Sabha on March 27, Gandhi had asked whether numerous OSCs remain locked, non-functional/fail to operate round-the-clock as mandated, if so, the details thereof; and the number of women who have sought assistance and shelter at OSCs and the number of cases of crimes against women registered during the last five years, state-wise and year-wise.
He also asked about the number of operational OSCs and new OSCs opened during the last five years, state-wise and year-wise; and the details of the funds released/utilised for OSCs during the said period, state-wise and year-wise indicating the reasons for underutilisation.
He further asked about the details of the sanctioned versus filled posts in OSCs, including administrators, case workers, counsellors, medical officers and police, state-wise; and whether the Ministry has examined complaints of mismanagement/violation of operational guidelines, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon.
In her written reply to the question, Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said OSC is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella Mission Shakti and it provides integrated and immediate support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces
"It provides services like medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social counselling to needy women. Since inception, i.e. 1st April, 2015 up to 31st December, 2025, over 13.37 lakh women have been assisted in the country," she said and also shared the state and UT-wise details of OSCs.
The minister said the overall implementation of the OSC scheme lies with the state governments and UT administrations.
"Two third party evaluations of the schemes of the Ministry, including the Mission Shakti Umbrella Scheme and its components relating to One Stop Centres (OSCs) have been conducted in 2020 and again in 2025 through NITI Aayog. The studies have found the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of the scheme as satisfactory," Thakur said.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने महिला सुरक्षा से जुड़े वन स्टॉप सेंटर (OSC) पर संसद में सवाल पूछा, लेकिन सरकार का जवाब हर बार की तरह निराशाजनक था।
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 5, 2026
श्री राहुल गांधी ने संसद में पूछा: जब कोई महिला हिंसा से भागकर वन स्टॉप सेंटर (OSC) पहुंचती है, तो उसे मदद क्यों नहीं मिलती, ताला… pic.twitter.com/MRAy2oEuG9
