By Walter E. Block and Jacob Kahn
Golan Heights (Photo by Freedom’s Falcon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia)
The UN Charter’s Article 2(4) forbids using force to alter borders, even after suffering aggression. The International Court of Justice doubled down on this principle in 2004, ruling that prolonged occupation never justifies unilateral annexation. Yet international practice tells a different story. States routinely retain captured territory for security reasons, facing minimal consequences from a selective international system.

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A U.S. Army rigger checks the parachute setup of humanitarian aid bundles loaded on a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility March 15, 2024. The bundles are destined for airdrop over Gaza to civilians in need. The U.S. joint operation incorporates a series of inspections to ensure pallets are prepared and dropped as safely as possible. (Photo from 







