Speaking at the 37th African Union Summit, the Palestinian leader accused Israel of adopting a system of racial discrimination in the occupied territories.

Shtayyeh welcomed South Africa’s decision to file a genocide complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The court will also begin hearing 56 pleadings on the illegal occupation on Monday, he recalled.

The head of government called on the African Union to raise its voice to demand the immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression, especially its operations against Gaza, where more than 28,000 deaths have been reported since last October.

More than two million people live there “deprived by the (Israeli) occupation of light, housing, food and medicine, and the world is incapable of providing them with relief”, he stressed. He also pointed out that currently more than 9,600 Palestinians are locked up in prisons in that country while suffering “oppression, lack of sleep, hunger, torture, and abuse”.

We defend our land, our people, and our holy places in the same way you defended your homelands against colonialism, the politician said while addressing the African leaders.

Shtayyeh assured that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the war, killing and destroying until the end of the year to stay in office.

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