KUWAIT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Zionist occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory. In a press release, the ministry said the move reflects the occupation’s illegitimate and unlawful practices that aim at maintaining matters that violate all international legitimacy resolutions, which confirm the Palestinian people’s legal rights, including an independent statehood on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem being its capital.

It added that as the ICJ’s declaration marks a new term of reference added to earlier references that recognize the brotherly Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, the State of Kuwait calls on the international community to take on its legal, political, and moral duties to fulfill the Palestinian people’s expectations of an independent state and ceasefire.

Zionist presence unlawful

The ICJ ruled on Friday that the Zionist occupation’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is “unlawful” and that it should come to an end “as rapidly as possible.” This came in an advisory opinion issued by the ICJ with respect to the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of the occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

Based in The Hague, the ICJ said the Zionist occupation should put an end to its unlawful presence in Palestine as soon as possible, halt all new settlement activities immediately, and, thence, deport all settlers from occupied Palestinian territories. The ICJ added that the occupation’s obligations include paying restitution for harm and “the evacuation of all settlers from existing settlements.” It further called on all countries not to recognize the unlawful status arising from the occupation of Palestinian territories.

Storming into mosque

In another development, the Foreign Ministry voiced Kuwait’s strong commendation and denunciation of the Zionist National Security Minister’s storming into Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing Muslims from getting into it. In a statement, the ministry also condemned the Knesset’s resolution rejecting setting up a Palestinian state, saying that the move is a blatant violation of international legitimacy resolutions.

The step also undermines efforts made by the international community to revive the peace process in the Middle East and implement the two-state solution, it stated. The ministry warned against such steps made by Zionists that undermine chances for peace, increase violence, and aggravate the crisis. The ministry called on the international community to take action to put an end to this chain of violations and war crimes committed by Zionists against Palestinian people and compel it to comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement concluded.

New health crisis looms

Meanwhile, poliovirus has been detected in samples of sewage water in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, raising alarms of a potential health catastrophe, Gaza health authorities warned. In a press statement, the health authorities said the tests on sewage samples were conducted in collaboration with UNICEF. Authorities stressed that the presence of this virus poses a significant health threat, endangering thousands of people, especially children. The risk of polio infection is heightened due to extensive infrastructure damage, lack of hygiene, and sanitation facilities in residential areas and makeshift shelters, they argued. — KUNA