Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki speaks to Non-Aligned Movement

Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, has told the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Venezuela that the Palestinian people face a desperate situation under Israeli occupation and but they remain hopeful for the future.

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : General view of the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : Cuba’s Foreign Minister Hugo Rodriguez attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki (C) attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki (C) attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016 [Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency]

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez (C) attends the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

MARGARITA, VENEZUELA – SEPTEMBER 15 : Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez (C) attends 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 15, 2016. ( Carlos Becerra – Anadolu Agency )

According to Maan News, al-Maliki explained that:

The Palestinian people have hopes for a future where they live in peace and freedom away from the occupation, colonialism and oppression and the absence of justice,

The Minister highlighted in particular Israel’s increase in the construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank and also urged his colleages to legal and moral leverage to on Israel in the hope of to ending the occupation

The NAM represents is a group of states which are not formally aligned with any major global power. Its origins are in the cold war, but the forum remains relevant today as a platform for international leaders.