More than 90 Countries Condemn Israeli Sanctions against Palestinian People

More than 90 countries, including Germany, issued a joint statement condemning Israeli sanctions against the Palestinians. The punitive measures came as a result of a United Nations (UN) resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

"In this regard, the signatories to the statement express their deep concern over the decision of the Israeli government to impose punitive measures against the Palestinian people, the Palestinian leadership, and civil society, following the UN General Assembly's request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice," said a letter published on Tuesday.

In addition to Germany, France, Italy, and Brazil were among the signatories to the statement calling for the "immediate cancellation" of the Israeli measures.

The UN General Assembly voted at the end of last December in favor of the International Court of Justice in The Hague reviewing the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, which has continued since 1967.

In response, Israel imposed several punitive measures, for example, it decided to direct about $40 million in tax revenues that Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority to Israeli families who lost relatives in attacks by Palestinians.