A general view shows the African Union (AU) headquarters building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 8, 2021. (Photo by Reuters)

Addis Ababa, February 3 (RHC)-- Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra is reportedly spearheading a motion to revoke the decision made by the African Union (AU) Commission to grant Israel observer status at the continental body.

The 69-year-old top Algerian diplomat has traveled to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to participate in the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, Al Mayadeen reported.  The meeting will host foreign ministers from member states of the union.

A vote on revoking Israel's observer status at the AU is said to be on “top of the agenda” for the summit.  Major African countries, specifically in North Africa, have joined the push to rescind Israel's membership.

The head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement objects to the decision of the African Union Commission to grant Israel an observer status at the continental body  Last week, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement expressed its profound gratitude to Algeria for its great and tireless efforts to have Israel’s AU observer status revoked.

“Hamas has been closely following up preparations for the upcoming African summit in the Ethiopian capital, and the success of the brotherly state of Algeria’s efforts to put expulsion of Israel from the African Union high on the agenda of the meeting," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

He noted that such a position is highly appreciated by Palestinian nation, describing it as a reflection of Algeria’s nobility.  The Hamas official called on Arab and African countries to throw their weight behind Algeria’s efforts in this regard and offer greater cooperation for the success of its bid.

He also said the Algerian position was “a clear reflection of the Arab world’s spirit and the African continent’s principles,” stressing that “African Union member states should be unanimously demanding expulsion of the occupying Israeli regime from the bloc.”

A group of international lawyers, researchers and activists have called on the African Union to reverse its decision to grant Israel observer status in the bloc.  Last September, a group of international lawyers, researchers and activists filed a complaint with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, denouncing the recent decision of the African Union to grant Israel an observer status at the regional bloc, and seeking its revocation.

“The human rights violations committed by Israel are contrary to the spirit and purport of the Charter of the African Union, particularly relating to issues of self-determination and decolonization as Israel continues to illegally occupy Palestine in violation of its international obligations and multiple UN resolutions,” the document read.