The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution urging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year.
The resolution passed with 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, reflecting a broad international consensus. This nonbinding measure, submitted by Palestine, is seen as a significant step in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The resolution demands that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” referring to the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, territories that Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. It further calls on Israel to provide reparations to Palestinians for damages incurred due to the occupation.
International Court of Justice Advisory and Human Rights Violations
An advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), found Israel’s presence in these territories to be unlawful. The ICJ ruled that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law and demanded their cessation.
Additionally, the court highlighted Israel’s responsibility as an occupying power, accusing it of human rights violations, including abuses in Gaza. The court had previously urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and to prevent potential genocide.
Global Response and Diplomatic Divides
The resolution sparked a varied response from countries across the globe. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised the vote as a “renewal of hope” for the Palestinian people, who he said are enduring severe aggression and a humanitarian crisis amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. Over 41,250 Palestinians have been reported dead as a result of the conflict.
“This vote demonstrates the international community’s commitment to Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Abbas stated, urging swift international action to pressure Israel into compliance.
However, Israel, alongside its staunch ally, the United States, opposed the resolution. The US echoed its long-standing stance that negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians should resolve the conflict, without external pressure—a position it has notably deviated from in other international disputes, such as Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Other countries that voted against the resolution included Argentina, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Paraguay, and several small Pacific island nations. In contrast, France, Mexico, and Finland supported it, while the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ukraine abstained.
Canada’s abstention drew criticism from advocacy groups like Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, which accused the country of “cowardly refusal to stand up for international law and Palestinian freedom.”
EU and Global Reactions
The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, hailed the resolution as a moment of “great significance,” reaffirming the international community’s commitment to a two-state solution. Borrell reiterated that the EU does not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders unless mutually agreed upon by both parties.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also welcomed the resolution, emphasizing the right of Palestinians to reclaim their occupied lands and calling for global collective action to ensure Israel adheres to international law.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry strongly supported the resolution, urging its immediate implementation to protect Palestinian sovereignty and territorial integrity and support socio-economic development in Palestine.
A Broader Consensus on Israeli Occupation
The UNGA’s resolution underscores the growing international opposition to Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories, a stance that the majority of the world’s countries have taken.
Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is illegal for an occupying power to transfer parts of its civilian population into the territory it occupies, a rule that Israel has been accused of violating through its settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The vote represents a crucial step in the Palestinian struggle for statehood, signalling broad international support for ending Israel’s occupation and advancing the possibility of a peaceful two-state solution.
However, with Israel and its closest ally, the U.S., firmly against the resolution, the path to its implementation remains uncertain. Nevertheless, for Palestine and many of its supporters, the resolution represents a renewed commitment to achieving self-determination, freedom, and justice.
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