More than 90 countries sign letter condemning Israeli sanctions on Palestinian Authority

More than 90 countries have called on Israel to lift sanctions it imposed on the Palestinian Authority (PA) earlier this month over its push to have the UN's top court issue an advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

A statement released Monday was signed by representatives of Arab nations and the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and by 37 other countries.

On 30 December, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution requesting an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the issue of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

In retaliation, Israel announced a series of sanctions, including financial ones, on 6 January against the PA to make it "pay the price" for pushing for the resolution.

Through Monday's statement, the UN member states reaffirmed their "unwavering support" for the ICJ and international law. It also expressed "deep concern regarding the Israeli government's decision to impose punitive measures against the Palestinian people, leadership, and civil society following the request by the General Assembly" to the court.

The statement is signed by countries that voted for the UN resolution (Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Ireland, Pakistan, and South Africa, among others) but also by some that abstained - Japan, France, and South Korea - and others that voted against, like Germany and Estonia.

"This is significant as it shows that regardless of how countries have voted, they are united in rejecting these punitive measures," the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said in a statement.

Mansour predicted more countries will support the statement when the Security Council holds its monthly meeting on the Middle East focusing on Israel and Palestine on 18 January.