CAIRO, Dec 19 (MENA) - Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Osama Abdel Khalek said Thursday the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion concerns Israel's obligations as the occupying power in the Palestinian territories to ensure and facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, development assistance, and basic services in support of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

Abdel Khalek added that the resolution, adopted with the approval of 137 votes, was initiated by Norway with active and effective participation from Egypt.

Egypt contributed to drafting, promoting, and garnering support for the resolution within the UN, reflecting its unwavering commitment to upholding justice, international law, and compelling Israel to comply with its legal obligations, including allowing humanitarian aid access to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem, the Egyptian envoy said.

He added that Egypt hopes the forthcoming ICJ advisory opinion will complement previous opinions, which affirmed the illegality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and deemed practices such as settlement expansion and land appropriation illegitimate.

The diplomat further emphasized that Egypt aspires for the new advisory opinion to reaffirm the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state across the entirety of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Such development is the sole guarantee for achieving peace and stability for the region's nations and peoples, he asserted. (MENA)

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