The Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination in the context of the Prolonged Occupations (With a Special Focus on the Palestinian Issue)

The right to self-determination is a fundamental human right that underpins the ability of individuals and social groups to manage their political, social, economic, and cultural affairs, irrespective of their ethnicity, race, gender, or religion. The Palestinian nation has been denied this right for over fifty years, enduring severe humanitarian conditions under military occupation. This research investigates the implications of the right to self-determination in the context of prolonged occupations, focusing specifically on the Palestinian situation. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology combined with content analysis, the study addresses the question of how the right to self-determination functions and what consequences arise from its violation for the international community. The findings of the research indicate that the requirements of the right to self-determination serve as a provision against domination, providing legal protection for this right in long-term occupations—regardless of the ambiguities surrounding the meaning and application of occupation law. This prevents actions that may limit the potential choices of the people regarding infrastructure, territorial status, and how it will be utilized after the end of the occupation. Consequently, the research concludes that the principle of self-determination imposes both negative and positive obligations on other nations when it is violated by an occupying power. This underscores the importance of international accountability and support for the rights of oppressed nations, particularly in contexts like Palestine where self-determination remains unfulfilled.