In solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and to remind the world of the Palestinians who are oppressed by Israel and the “apartheid system”, the world marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people on November 29th of each year.

The day coincides with the anniversary of the UN General Assembly resolution 181, which was proposed by the UN on 1977 and recommended the partition of the Palestinian state.

According to the UN, the day represents "an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights".

This year has an added significance, as 2017 marks 50 years since the start of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, with many Arabs and international nations marking the day with protests and campaigns across the world.

“The International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians is a very important observance. It marks the adoption of the UN resolution to the partition of Palestine, which was an unfair decision,” Mustafa Barghouthi, the General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, told Roya.

“The resolution recommended the partition of Palestine and the creation of Israel, but the result was that Israel was created while Palestine was not.”

On the day of International Solidarity, Barghouthi is in Ireland, where a decision will be submitted to the Senate today to boycott Israeli goods from entering the Irish market. The event will be attended by Barghouthi alongside Irish Senates.

When asked about the international support for the Palestinian cause, Barghouthi observed that Palestine has seen several countries and nation's step forward in encouragement.

“One of the most supportive countries for the Palestinian cause is South Africa, it is mainly because South Africans were living under an apartheid system just like Palestinians,” he noted.

South Africa has long been supportive of the Palestinian cause, with South African political leader and revolutionary Nelson Mandela famously stating, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Barghouti also noted the support of European countries in the fight for Palestinian rights.

“The Swedish government, which is well-known of respecting human rights, is known of supporting Palestinians. In addition to Iceland, Ireland and Scotland nations who are standing by Palestinians side supporting them in the International community, although their governments are not,” he told Roya.

He went on to observe that in the West, the younger generations seem to be the most supportive of the Palestinian cause, particularly in the UK. “The most noticeable thing recently, the rise of solidarity with Palestinian people among young generations and youth. As 70% of British youth are supporting Palestine, in addition to the increasing number in the US,” Barghouthi noted.

And what about the Middle East? “In terms of Arab nations, all of them are known of supporting Palestine, especially Algerians. But governments were not supportive as expected,” Barghouti said.

However, Barghouti noted that it is necessary to differentiate between governments’ support and nations’ support. While international support is apparent, Palestinians are also faced with several challenges, negotiating in an global environment where many political superpowers have been vocal in their support of Israel and the occupation.

Talking about US President’s VP, Mike Pence remarks on Tuesday, about moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, Barghouti said that this step is totally unacceptable by any means.

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“We know that the current US administration is bias to Israel, but this is considered as a violation of the international law, and moving the embassy will be participating in a crime against Palestinians.”

However, Barghouthi expected the decision of moving the embassy will not be applied soon, as it will cost the US administration so much in the international forum. However, he believes that if step was applied, it would only increase the level of international solidarity with Palestinians.