The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas called for practical implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolution asking Israel to stop building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kasem said in a press statement that his Movement appreciates the countries that supported the resolution and emphasized the need to turn this resolution into practical steps not only to halt the settlement activities but also to remove the occupation entirely.
Kasem affirmed that Palestinians will cling to their right to resist until settlements are removed and Israeli settlers’ violations are halted.
The UN Security Council approved on Friday evening with an overwhelming majority a draft resolution to halt the Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories. This came after Egypt’s withdrawal of the same draft resolution under pressures from Israel and the US president-elect Donald Trump.
For the first time in 36 years 14 members in the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution while the United States abstained.
The resolution affirms the illegality of the Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 including East Jerusalem and considers the establishment of Israeli settlements a blatant violation of the international law and a major obstacle to achieving peace and the two-state solution.
