The Law and Politics of Belligerent Occupation

In recent years, scholarship on the law of belligerent occupation has grown, despite few occupiers recognizing its applicability. Powers often deny occupation, claim sovereignty, or justify actions by regime change, protection, or invitation. Israel’s occupation of territories seized in 1967 is a rare case acknowledged internationally. The UN and ICJ criticize Israel’s policies as violating international law. This study examines how Israeli authorities navigated legal frameworks to serve political aims, showing how legal tools were bent and courts avoided judgments—raising critical questions about the role of law and lawyers in modern occupation.