Palestinian Ambassador Urges Non-Aligned Movement to Pressure Israel for Cease-Fire

The Palestinian representative to the United Nations appealed to the Non-Aligned Movement during their meeting in Kampala, Uganda, urging them to exert pressure on Israel to agree to a cease-fire in Gaza. This call comes after a 100-day conflict with Hamas, a militant Palestinian group.

In his opening address to the 120 members gathered for the week-long meeting, Riyad Mansour highlighted that despite resolutions by the U.N. General Assembly and the Security Council, a cease-fire had not been achieved.

The Non-Aligned Movement, established amidst the decline of colonialism and during the peak of the Cold War, has historically been instrumental in the decolonization process, as noted on its official website.

Mansour accused Israel of enacting an apartheid regime against Palestinians, referencing the war that erupted on October 7 following an attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 250 people. In response, Israel conducted intensive operations in the Gaza Strip, leading to nearly 24,000 deaths and displacing around 80% of the region’s population.

Mansour condemned the situation as a form of colonial occupation by Israel, equating the actions in Gaza to genocide. He expressed gratitude towards South Africa for initiating a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, emphasizing the Palestinians’ struggle for national independence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained a firm stance, declaring that Israel’s campaign against Hamas will continue until they achieve victory and will not be halted by external entities, including the ICJ.

Israel firmly denies any accusations of genocide in Gaza, insisting that it takes all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties. It also refutes the allegations of apartheid, viewing them as a challenge to its legitimacy.

The weeklong Non-Aligned Movement meeting is expected to conclude with a heads of states gathering, attended by at least 30 member nations. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is set to succeed Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev as the president of the movement for the next three years.