Palestinian Ambassador for Indonesia Calls for Economic Sanction Against Israel

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Palestinian Ambassador for Indonesia Zuhair Al-Shun called for the international community to implement economic sanctions against Israel. The occupational entity is currently carrying out bombardments and blockades in the Gaza Strip.

"First, Israel must be isolated. Second, sanctions must be implemented against [Israel]. Economically, politically, and even regarding travel," Al-Shun said during a candle-lighting action at the Palestinian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday evening, November 2, 2023.

Economic sanction is one of the tools used by governments to pressure a state actor to change its attitude regarding foreign policies. These sanctions include travel bans, asset freezing, weapon embargoes, and trade limits. One of the examples of economic sanction is the recent ban against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and illegal annexation in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

According to Zuhair, an economic sanction is critical since Israel has been ignoring all international pressure and calls for a ceasefire from various countries. "They refused to listen to anyone," Zuhair added.

On Friday, October 27, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The resolution passed with 120 votes, while 45 countries abstained and 14 countries rejected the resolution, including Israel and its persistent ally, the US.

The UNGA resolution entered the conversation after the US and Russia vetoed any attempts to adopt the legally binding UN Security Council resolutions.

Despite the present UNGA resolution, Israel continues with its relentless attack on Palestinians in Gaza, in a move widely considered disproportionate and amounted to war crimes. 

"Members of the international community who wish for peace must abide the international law and regulations. Guarding Israel even to the high court over its massacres against Palestinians," Zuhair said.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki previously visited Den Haag, Netherlands, on October 26 to urge an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation against Israel's war crimes.

ICC's chief prosecutor Karim Khan stated earlier that the court holds jurisdiction over the potential war crimes conducted by both Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, even if Israel is not party to the ICC.

In a press conference in Egypt on Sunday, Khan said that withholding humanitarian aid to Gazans, including fuel, is an alleged war crime under the ICC's jurisdiction. Khan also informed that the ICC has been investigating alleged war crimes in the occupied territories of Palestine since 2021.

NABIILA AZZAHRA ABDULLAH

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