The Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement has strongly rejected the decision by the Democratic Republic of Congo to move its embassy in the 1948 Israeli-occupied territories to al-Quds from Tel Aviv, terming the move as a flagrant violation of international law.
“Hamas views such move as a blatant violation of international law, and an infringement upon the Palestinian nation’s right to their historical capital and to their religious and political attachment to the holy city,” the movement said in a statement.
The resistance group went on to call upon Congolese authorities to backpedal on the “regrettable decision,” arguing that the measure will give the occupying Israeli regime the green light to push ahead with its systematic Judaization schemes in occupied al-Quds, and commit more crimes and violations against Palestinians as well as their homeland and sacred sites.
“Hamas urges all world states to boycott the racist Israeli regime and support Palestinians’ struggle to end the occupation of their homeland,” the statement noted.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday that the African country’s embassy in the occupied lands will soon be moved from Tel Aviv to al-Quds.
In return, Israel will open an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A statement by Netanyahu’s office said that during the meeting, the leaders discussed collaborating on agriculture, trade, security and cyber warfare.
Tshisekedi said the two discussed cooperation in investments, security, cyber security and more.
African nations have traditionally been critical of Israel due to the oppression of Palestinians, although the regime has attempted to find new allies in the continent in recent years.
Israel illegally annexed East al-Quds in 1980 in a move not recognized by the global community.
Former US President Donald Trump sparked huge anger in the Muslim world when he announced in 2018 that the US embassy in Israel would move to al-Quds, with similar pledges by other allies of Israel.
Eighty-nine of the 94 embassies in Israel are situated in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, while only four are in al-Quds – Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, and the United States.
