AhlulBayt News Agency: Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the decision of Paraguay's President Santiago Pena to move the Latin American country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied al-Quds, which Israel claims as its “capital”.
In a statement on Friday, Hamas said Pena’s decision represents a “violation of the Palestinian people’s rights to their land and their eternal capital.”
The movement added this move “violates the rules of international law and United Nations resolutions” which consider al-Quds as an occupied Palestinian territory.
Paraguay reopened its embassy in al-Quds in a ceremony on Thursday, attended by President Santiago Pena, who took office last year, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The small South American nation first relocated its embassy to al-Quds in 2018 under the government of then-President Horacio Cartes, after a similar decision by the US. Paraguay reversed its decision months later under a new president.
Cartes, a Netanyahu ally, is also a close confidant of Pena, with both men coming from Paraguay's conservative Colorado Party.
Reports said Paraguay's keenness to strengthen its ties with Israel comes as the country's conservative leadership has sought to curry favor with former and future US President Donald Trump.
Paraguay’s decision came while Israel is facing increasing international isolation over its genocidal war on Gaza which has so far killed at least 44,875 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 106,454 others.
Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East al-Quds as its capital.
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In a statement on Friday, Hamas said Pena’s decision represents a “violation of the Palestinian people’s rights to their land and their eternal capital.”
The movement added this move “violates the rules of international law and United Nations resolutions” which consider al-Quds as an occupied Palestinian territory.
Paraguay reopened its embassy in al-Quds in a ceremony on Thursday, attended by President Santiago Pena, who took office last year, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The small South American nation first relocated its embassy to al-Quds in 2018 under the government of then-President Horacio Cartes, after a similar decision by the US. Paraguay reversed its decision months later under a new president.
Cartes, a Netanyahu ally, is also a close confidant of Pena, with both men coming from Paraguay's conservative Colorado Party.
Reports said Paraguay's keenness to strengthen its ties with Israel comes as the country's conservative leadership has sought to curry favor with former and future US President Donald Trump.
Paraguay’s decision came while Israel is facing increasing international isolation over its genocidal war on Gaza which has so far killed at least 44,875 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 106,454 others.
Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East al-Quds as its capital.
/129