On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution, drafted by Palestine, demanding that Israel end its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months.
The resolution was supported by 124 countries, with 43 abstaining, and Israel, the United States, and 12 others voted against it. This move isolates Israel just days before the annual UN gathering in New York, where both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are set to speak.
The resolution also acknowledges a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements illegal, urging their withdrawal. While the ICJ opinion called for swift action, the General Assembly’s resolution imposes a 12-month deadline.
Additionally, the resolution calls on countries to stop importing products from Israeli settlements and to halt the transfer of arms to Israel when there is suspicion they may be used in occupied Palestinian territories.
This is the first resolution formally introduced by the Palestinian Authority since it gained more rights at the UN, including the ability to propose draft resolutions.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged countries to oppose the resolution, emphasizing that such unilateral actions undermine a two-state solution. Although neither the ICJ advisory opinion nor the General Assembly resolution are binding, they carry political and legal weight under international law.
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour called for support, urging nations to stand “on the right side of history” and uphold international law. Meanwhile, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon condemned the resolution, labeling it “diplomatic terrorism.”
The resolution comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflict. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war, territories that Palestinians seek for their future state. The war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has led to widespread destruction, displacing millions and resulting in significant loss of life.
Last year, the General Assembly called for a humanitarian truce in Gaza, with 120 votes in favor, and later in December, 153 countries demanded an immediate ceasefire. The Palestinian Authority represents the Palestinian people at the UN as a non-member observer state, known as the State of Palestine.
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