The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has welcomed an announcement by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a request from the UN General Assembly to give an advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation.

“We welcome such international move aimed at criminalising the Israeli occupation and regarding it a violation of international law,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem said Saturday.

In a press statement, Qasem called on all concerned parties to move ahead with the legal course regarding the UN request.

The Hamas spokesperson called for further international steps to be taken to condemn the Israeli occupation and its daily violations against the Palestinian people until ending the occupation of Palestine.