40 countries affirm their rejection of the occupation’s sanctions against the Palestinian people

New York, (ST) –  Forty countries called on the Israeli occupation to immediately withdraw the retaliatory sanctions it had taken against the Palestinians after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in favor of requesting a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on settlements and Israel’s continued violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

WAFA reported that 40 member states of the United Nations affirmed, in a statement distributed to journalists last night, their firm support for the International Court of Justice and international law as the cornerstone of the international system, and said: “Irrespective of the position of each country on the decision of the General Assembly, we reject punitive measures in response to requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice or in general on any decision of the General Assembly, and we demand an immediate retraction of these measures”.

Palestine welcomed the statement, and its delegate to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said that the importance of this statement lies in the fact that the list of signatories included countries that did not vote in favor of the resolution in the General Assembly, which reinforces the international position rejecting the punishment policy pursued by “Israel”.

Mansour pointed out that this position is consistent with the international system and international law in the complete rejection of unilateral and illegal sanctions that affect an entire people, due to its resort to international mechanisms and institutions.

Mansour expressed his hope that the member states of the United Nations, including members of the Security Council, will reaffirm this position during the open debate that the Council will hold on the situation in the Middle East tomorrow, Wednesday.

On the 30th of last December, the General Assembly adopted a Palestinian draft resolution asking for the International Court of Justice legal opinion on settlements and “Israel’s” violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Raghda Sawas