Cuba has demanded that the United Nations immediately implement measures aimed at bringing an end to the violations and abuses suffered by the Palestinians as a result of half a century of occupation and aggression perpetrated by Israel.

The socialist-led island’s position was expressed by Ana Silvia Rodriguez, a Cuban diplomat present at the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, a body that deals with issues related to decolonization and special politics.

“The Palestinian people continue to suffer profoundly, for more than 50 years of illegal foreign occupation and illegal Israeli policies and practices in grave violation of international law, including humanitarian law and human rights,” she complained.

Silvia Rodriguez referred to reports introduced at the U.N. which address the existing scenario in the Palestinian territories, marked by occupation, confiscation of land and property, colonization through settlements, forced displacements and collective punishments, according to Granma.

The diplomat urged the Security Council to act on behalf of Cuba to stop these crimes and demanded an end of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, a measure applied for more than a decade with serious humanitarian consequences.

She stressed that it’s regrettable that the Security Council, the body in charge of maintaining international peace and security, has not been able to reach an agreement that definitively ends Israel’s aggression and colonizing practices perpetrated against the Palestinian people.

Silvia Rodriguez wrapped up her speech by affirming that Cuba supports a two-state solution to bring an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine which would afford relief to the suffering of the Palestinian people.