The most important resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council regarding Palestine :
194 , 1948 : UN General Assembly Resolution 194 called for the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes. The United States voted in favor of the resolution.
3236 , 1974 : The resolution recognized the right of the Palestinians to sovereignty over their lands. The United States voted no.
3237 , 1974 : The resolution granted the Palestine Liberation Organization observer status in the General Assembly. The United States voted against the resolution.
3379 , 1975 : The resolution determined that Zionism is a form of racism and discrimination. The United States voted against the resolution.
86/46 , 1991 : This resolution repealed Resolution 3379, which had determined that Zionism was a form of racism and discrimination. The United States voted in favor of the resolution.
124/59 , 2004 : This resolution concerns Israeli practices that affect the human rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The United States voted against the resolution.
67/19 , 2012 : The resolution granted Palestine the status of a non-member observer state at the United Nations. The United States opposed the resolution.
69/320 , 2015 : This resolution allowed non-member observer states to raise the flag at the UN headquarters in New York. The United States opposed the resolution.
10/19 , 2017 : The resolution concerns the status of Jerusalem, and was adopted during the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly. 128 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 9 voted against, 35 abstained, and 21 were absent. The United States voted against the resolution.
- Security Council Resolutions
Resolution 2334, December 23, 2016 : Resolution condemning Israeli settlements, 14 countries voted in favor of the resolution and the United States abstained. The resolution included that Israeli measures violate international humanitarian law and that these measures aim to change the demographic composition and status of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, including the construction and expansion of settlements, the movement of Israeli settlers, the confiscation of land, the demolition of homes and the displacement of Palestinian civilians.
Resolution 1860, January 8, 2009 : The resolution called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire leading to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 14 countries supported the resolution and the United States abstained.
1397 , 2002 : The United States voted in favor of the resolution. The Council called for an end to the violence since the outbreak of the second intifada. “Reaffirming the vision of a two-State solution, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and defined borders… The resolution called for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including terrorism, incitement, provocation and destruction, and called on the Israeli and Palestinian sides and their leaderships to cooperate in implementing the Tenet plan and the recommendations of the Mitchell report and to maintain the goal of resuming negotiations on a political settlement.”
1435 , 2002 : The United States abstained. The resolution called for an end to the occupation of the Muqata’a, the headquarters of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. The resolution also sounded the alarm on the reoccupation of Palestinian cities, the imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of citizens and goods, and the need to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.
1322 , 2000 : The United States abstained but threatened to use its veto. The Security Council condemned Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Haram al-Sharif, which resulted in the deaths of 80 Palestinians. The Council condemned all acts of violence, in particular the excessive use of force against Palestinians, resulting in injury and loss of life. The resolution called upon Israel, as the occupying power, to adhere strictly to its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. The resolution called for an immediate cessation of violence and for all necessary steps to ensure that the violence ceases, to avoid acts of provocation, and to ensure a return to normalcy in a manner that supports the prospects for the Middle East peace process.
1073 , 1996 : The United States abstained. In response to the digging of a tunnel under the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the continued fighting. The resolution called for an immediate cessation and reversal of all actions that have aggravated the situation and have negative implications for the Middle East peace process, and called for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians, and for the immediate continuation of negotiations within the Middle East peace process and its agreed rules and the establishment of a timetable for the implementation of the agreements reached.
904 , 1994 : Resolution adopted without a vote. The Council called for measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories after the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The Council called on the United States and Russia to continue their efforts to conclude a peace deal.
Resolution 672, 1990 : The resolution called on Israel, as the occupying power, to implement its obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Conference, and requested the UN Secretary-General to send a mission to the occupied territories. The United States voted in favor of the resolution.
Resolution 608, 1988 : The resolution called on Israel to stop deporting Palestinians. The United States voted in favor of the resolution.
Resolution 476, 1980 : The resolution reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli actions to change the status and character of Jerusalem. The United States abstained.
Resolution 452, 1979 : The resolution declared that the settlements in the occupied territories had no legal status and that the legal status of Jerusalem could not be changed unilaterally. The United States abstained.
Resolution 338, 1973 : The Security Council adopted in October 1973 a resolution calling for a ceasefire following the Yom Kippur War. The resolution was adopted by the Security Council with 14 votes, with the People’s Republic of China absent. The resolution called for the implementation of the provisions of Resolution 242.
Resolution 242, 1967 : The resolution called for Israel’s withdrawal from all territories occupied in 1967 after the Six-Day War. The United States voted in favor of the resolution.
The most important dates of the Palestinian issue in the United Nations :
The most important milestones of the Palestinian issue in the United Nations since the birth of the so-called Palestinian issue in the United Nations on 11/29/1947.
Every year, the United Nations General Assembly adopts 16 resolutions affirming the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including “the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state,” “the right of return,” “sovereignty over natural resources,” and “the illegality of settlements.”
On 11/29/1947: The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution (181), which stipulated the partition of Palestine, which was under the British Mandate at that time, to establish two states: (Palestinian and Israeli).
– On 12/11/1948: The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution No. (194), which stipulates the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees.
On 12/8/1949, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution No. (302 (5)), which established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
– On 10/14/1974: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence.
– On 11/22/1974: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the Palestine Liberation Organization as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people; and the organization obtained observer status in the United Nations as a “national liberation movement.”
On 11/2/1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution (32/40 B) designating 11/29 of each year as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
– On 8/20/1980: The Security Council adopted Resolution No. (478), which refused to recognize Israel’s decision to annex Jerusalem; and considered it null, void, and illegal.
– On 11/15/1988: The National Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization declared the establishment of the “Independent State of Palestine” and accepted UN Resolutions 242 and 383, calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967; and reaching a solution through negotiations. At the time, the National Council tasked the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization with carrying out the duties of the government of the State of Palestine. Based on the Declaration of Independence, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution replacing the designation of Palestine in the United Nations from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine.
– On 3/12/2002: The UN Security Council adopted Resolution No. 1397, which mentions the State of Palestine for the first time.
– On 11/19/2003: The Security Council adopted Resolution No. (1515), which called for accepting the Roadmap plan, adhering to it, supporting it, and implementing its elements.
– On 7/9/2004: The International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory decision in which it confirmed that the annexation and expansion wall that Israel built in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal; Israel must remove and dismantle it; and it stressed the legal responsibility of the international community to embody the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
– On 9/23/2011: President Mahmoud Abbas submitted Palestine’s request for full membership in the United Nations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Ban Ki-moon).
– On 10/31/2011: Palestine obtained full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
– On 3/22/2012: The United Nations Human Rights Council decided to establish an international investigation mission into the repercussions of building Israeli settlements on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
– On 6/29/2012: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the Church of the Nativity and the Old City of Bethlehem, including the Pilgrimage Route, on the World Heritage List.
– On 11/26/2012: The Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations distributed a draft resolution granting Palestine the status of (observer state) in the United Nations.
– On 11/29/2012: The United Nations General Assembly voted to raise Palestine’s status to observer state in the United Nations.
On 9/11/2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a draft resolution calling on the Secretary-General of the international organization to raise the Palestinian flag over the United Nations headquarters in New York.
On 9/30/2015, the Palestinian flag was raised at the United Nations headquarters, alongside the flags of the other 193 member states of the United Nations.
On May 10, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting Palestine’s application for full membership in the United Nations and recommending that the Security Council reconsider the application favorably. The resolution grants Palestine additional rights and privileges relating to its participation in the United Nations .
Palestine is a non-member observer state in the United Nations . The adoption of the General Assembly resolution does not change its status but confirms that it is eligible for membership in the organization under Article 4 of the UN Charter , “ and should therefore be admitted as a Member .”
- Article 4 of the Charter :
- Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the Charter and which, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.
- The admission of any State to membership in the United Nations shall be made by a decision of the General Assembly based on the recommendation of the Security Council.
However, the Security Council did not agree to send this recommendation to the General Assembly because the United States of America used its veto against an Algerian draft resolution on the matter.
Now, in its new resolution adopted by a majority on 10 May, the General Assembly recommended that the Security Council reconsider positively the matter . It expressed “deep regret and concern” that a single negative vote by a permanent member of the Security Council prevented the adoption of a draft resolution supported by 12 members of the Council recommending the admission of the State of Palestine as a member of the United Nations.
The General Assembly reaffirmed in the resolution the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination , including their independent State: Palestine.
It called on the international community to make renewed and coordinated efforts to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, and to reach a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
It requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary measures to implement this resolution .
The General Assembly decided, in accordance with the resolution, and on an exceptional basis – and without setting a precedent – to adopt several methods related to the participation of the State of Palestine in the sessions and work of the General Assembly and international conferences held under its auspices and other United Nations bodies.
The State of Palestine, as an observer State, is not entitled to vote in the General Assembly or to submit its candidacy to United Nations bodies.
Additional benefits
The resolution document includes an annex specifying the methods for exercising these additional rights and privileges, including:
The right to sit among the member states in alphabetical order.
The right to be registered on the list of speakers under agenda items other than those related to the issues of Palestine and the Middle East.
The right to make statements on behalf of a group, including alongside representatives of major groups.
The right to submit, participate in the submission of, and display proposals and amendments, including on behalf of a group.
The right to submit amendments for voting on behalf of the member states of a group.
Right of reply regarding a group’s positions.
The right to have members of the delegation of the State of Palestine elected to the Bureau of the General Assembly and the bureaux of its Main Committees.
The right to full and effective participation in United Nations conferences and international conferences and meetings held under the auspices of the General Assembly.
How did countries vote?
The General Assembly adopted the resolution during the resumption of its tenth emergency special session, held under the title: “Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
143 countries voted in favor of the resolution , more than a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly members present and voting at the session.
The draft resolution was opposed by 9 countries : Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the United States of America.
25 countries abstained from voting : Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Moldova, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
What’s next?
After the United States vetoed the Algerian draft resolution recommending the admission of the State of Palestine as a member of the United Nations, Algerian Ambassador Amar Benjamaa stressed that the support of 12 members of the Council for the Palestinian request sends a clear message that “ the State of Palestine deserves its rightful place among the members of the United Nations .”
He promised that his country would return to the Council “ stronger and louder ” with the support of “ the overwhelming majority in the General Assembly , ” and expressed hope that those who were unable to support the admission of the State of Palestine today “ will be forced to do so next time .”
Robert Wood, the US deputy ambassador to the United Nations, indicated that his country would use its veto again if a draft resolution on Palestine’s membership was presented to the Security Council. He said that the fastest way for the Palestinian people to obtain UN membership is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the United States and other partners.
The 10th emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine resumed its work today to discuss a draft resolution calling on Israel to end its “illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory” within 12 months, following the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in Palestine.
The draft General Assembly resolution, submitted by several countries, including Arab countries*, calls, in its latest version, for:
That Israel shall end, without delay, its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory within a maximum period of 12 months from the date of “the adoption of the resolution”,
And that Israel shall comply without delay with all its obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice, and that Israel shall, inter alia:
- Withdraw all its military forces from the occupied Palestinian territory,
- End its illegal policies and practices, including the immediate cessation of all new settlement activities, the evacuation of all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory, and the dismantling of parts of the wall constructed by Israel,
- Return of lands and other immovable property, and all assets seized since the beginning of its occupation in 1967,
- Allow all Palestinians who were displaced during the occupation to return to their original places of residence,
- Not to hinder the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination, including their right to establish an independent, sovereign state on the entire occupied Palestinian territory.
The General Assembly, in the draft resolution, calls upon all States to comply with their obligations under international law. It decides to convene an international conference during the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly to implement the United Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine and the two-State solution to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The General Assembly also calls for the convening of a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to consider measures necessary for the implementation of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The draft resolution requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, within 3 months, a report on the implementation of this resolution.
At the request of the Palestinian delegate, one of the sponsors of the draft resolution, the President of the General Assembly decided to suspend the deliberations of the tenth emergency special session at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, to vote on the draft resolution.
President of the General Assembly
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, said that the resumption of the tenth emergency special session is an opportunity for reflection and dialogue, and “an opportunity to find a permanent solution to the ancient Palestinian problem.”
“In our deliberations, we must not lose sight of the many lives lost, the enormous humanitarian challenges, and the destruction of infrastructure that continues to occur, particularly in Gaza over the past few months,” he added .
He expressed hope that the meeting would make a positive difference in the lives of many people who continue to suffer in this region “and who look to us to make the right decisions at this emergency special session.”
Palestine
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour was the first delegate to speak at the session to review the draft resolution. Mansour stressed the need not to ignore the “existential threat” facing Palestine and its people.
He added that the Palestinians want to live life and not just survive, and to be free in reality as their souls are free and to live in peace and dignity in the homeland of their ancestors.
“As we speak within these walls, as we meet to once again discuss the historical injustice, two million people are being besieged, bombed, starved, displaced time and again with no safe haven anywhere, and death awaits them everywhere,” the Palestinian delegate said.
He wondered how many more Palestinians would have to die or suffer abuse before the necessary change was made to stop the “inhumane” practices and for the world to stand up for the rule of law and human rights. He said it was time for the General Assembly to implement its mandate and for all states to comply with their obligations, after the International Court of Justice responded to the General Assembly’s request to issue an advisory opinion on the Israeli presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
He stressed the need to expedite the implementation of justice and that no occupying state should have the right to veto the inalienable rights guaranteed to the people under its occupation. He stressed that the Palestinian people will not surrender, disappear or accept a life of apartheid.
In a message to the Palestinian people from the podium of the General Assembly, Mansour said: “ Change will come. Their fate will not be endless suffering and pain, and freedom is their right and destiny .” He told the members of the General Assembly that justice is the only path to peace, and called on them to abide by international law, reject double standards, treat the Palestinian people with the respect they deserve, and recognize the rights that must be guaranteed to them.
The list of speakers at today’s meeting includes 92 countries. You can follow the live broadcast of the General Assembly session on the United Nations Webcast website.
Israel
For his part, Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said that the delegates gathered in the General Assembly Hall to watch “the Palestinian UN circus where evil is right, war is peace, murder is justified, and terrorism is welcomed.”
He wondered how Member States “dare” to continue the “tradition” of passing “unilateral resolutions” against Israel, “without even pausing to consider what the Israeli people have endured since October 7.” He added: “Those who contribute to this circus are not mere spectators. You are participants, enablers and collaborators. Every vote you cast in support of this circus fuels violence and emboldens those who reject peace. This empty show is not only an insult to the victims of October 7, and an insult to the hostages. It is an insult to the very fabric of this institution. You are not promoting peace and justice today. You are dancing to the tune of your masters in the ring, the Palestinian Authority.”
“Jewish blood is not cheap, and the days when it could be shed without consequences are over,” Danny Danon said, adding: “We will never stand idly by while our people are slaughtered. We will never rely on your mercy or your judgment to protect us.”
The Israeli ambassador said the draft resolution was “diplomatic terrorism” aimed at destroying “the only democracy in the Middle East.” He said Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were “two sides of the same coin, one attacks with rockets and the other with resolutions,” and yet the General Assembly was considering giving “a fake award to a fake leadership,” he said.
Danon said that Israel has shown for decades that real progress comes only through direct dialogue, through the peace treaties it signed with Egypt, Jordan, the Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, and he said, “God willing, there will be more in the near future.”
He stressed that what he described as an attempt to isolate and destroy Israel “brings nothing but setbacks,” adding that the draft resolution only delays “hope for peace and progress” in the region.
The Israeli ambassador concluded his remarks by saying that anyone who supported the draft resolution today “should be ashamed of themselves,” adding: “On a day when your civilians, your families, your loved ones are being killed, raped and kidnapped, do not come to this General Assembly for justice. All you will find is silence.”
Arab League
Speaking on behalf of the Arab League, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Qusay Dahak, welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, stressing the need to follow up on it and work to implement it. He congratulated the State of Palestine for starting to enjoy the additional rights and privileges approved by the General Assembly as of this session, which he said enabled the Palestinian delegation today to present “this historic decision.”
Ambassador Qusay Al-Dahhak said that the Arab Group looks forward to the State of Palestine gaining full membership in the United Nations as soon as possible. He condemned, on behalf of the Arab Group, “the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people,” calling for their immediate and unconditional cessation.
He also condemned “the aggressive policies and measures taken by Israel, the occupying power, against the embodiment of the independence of the State of Palestine and its persistence in plans to annex the occupied West Bank and colonial settlement expansion in all Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.”
The Syrian ambassador added: “Members of the General Assembly are called upon today once again to show their support for the Palestinian people and their long struggle to end the Israeli occupation of their land and exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.”
Al-Dahhak said that solidarity with the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights is demonstrated by supporting the draft resolution and voting in its favor.
Egypt
Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Osama Abdel Khalek, said that “ending the occupation and deterring Israel’s aggressive behavior against the Palestinian people has become an urgent necessity to maintain international security – or what remains of regional stability, to be more precise – after Israel has persisted in all its violations related to its occupation of the Palestinian territories . “
He also referred to what he described as Israel’s persistence in its aggression against the United Nations itself, killing more than 220 UN employees. He explained that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice was issued at a time when the Israeli war machine continues to destroy the Gaza Strip.
Abdul Khaleq called again for “the Security Council to issue a resolution under Chapter VII obligating Israel to immediately stop the aggression and deliver aid without hindrance to maintain international peace and security, and to hold it accountable for its violations of international law and failure to implement Security Council resolutions . ”
The Egyptian ambassador said: “Believing in all that is right and just, Egypt calls upon you to vote in favor of the draft resolution to protect the credibility of this organization, to support a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue and other issues, to preserve the rights of all of us to live in freedom and dignity, and for the sake of truth and justice . ”
Libya
Libyan Ambassador Taher El-Sunni said the Israeli ambassador was “totally out of touch” with reality in his “defamation” of member state representatives during his speech, where he “presented a lecture to us on humanity and morality.”
“The representative of the Israeli occupation forces” could not talk about the issue at hand and address the resolution, and tried to “show that the world did not begin until October 7, ignoring the truth of history,” Al-Sunni said . “If he considers this association a circus, then I consider him a clown, performing his shows in this place, always bringing his equipment, trying to put on a show, failing to make us laugh, and deceiving us about reality. This is what they tried to do, but they failed miserably. So I ask him, if he thinks this place is a circus, why do you perform your shows in it? Why are you still a member of it?”
Jordan
Ambassador Mahmoud Hamoud, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations, described the ICJ advisory opinion as a “historical turning point in the Palestinian cause ,” noting that it “confirmed what we have all known for decades: that the Israeli occupation is illegal.” He said that implementing what was stated in the advisory opinion “is our duty as states, international organizations and the international community.”
He added that Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories have sought to “abort” the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, “which the international community cannot allow.” He added: “Not supporting Israel to continue its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people is not an intellectual luxury, but a legal duty for every state and the international community as a whole to implement.”
Ambassador Hamoud also called on the international community to formulate a unified position condemning “the continuation of Israeli unilateral measures and violations” of the historical status quo in Jerusalem and to oblige Israel and “its extremist government,” as he put it, to stop its violations in the West Bank and its policies aimed at “dragging the region into a comprehensive regional war with dire consequences.”
US
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said adopting a unilateral resolution that “selectively interprets the substance of the ICJ opinion” does not advance progress toward a two-state solution, adding that the proposed resolution reinforces “the false notion that adopting a text here in New York can somehow resolve one of the most complex and chronic diplomatic challenges of our time.”
Greenfield said that a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be achieved through negotiations between the two parties, based on some basic principles, including the concept of land for peace, which she said was not mentioned in the draft resolution.
She noted that the resolution fails, among other things, to recognize that Hamas, “a terrorist organization, currently exercises power, control and influence in Gaza and fails to address the fact that Israel, a UN Member State, simply has the right to protect and defend its people from acts of terrorism or violence.”
She urged member states to vote against the draft resolution and join the United States in pressing the Israelis and Palestinians to recommit to the serious business of direct negotiations “and press Hamas to accept the deal on the table” regarding Gaza.
Saudi Arabia
The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, stressed that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice was consistent with what the international community believes in regarding the Palestinian right, stressing that the illegal Israeli practices extending over decades have led and continue to lead to the exacerbation of violations against the Palestinian people.
Al-Wasil said: “The international community – represented by the United Nations General Assembly – is required to acknowledge the necessity of respecting this opinion, and is also required to monitor the implementation of the obligations it includes on the Israeli side, as the real activation that we all seek and aspire to for the role of the United Nations must begin with respecting its decisions and strengthening the role of its agencies . ”
He called on “peace-loving member states” to vote in favour of the draft resolution, as it reaffirms the international community’s respect for the Court’s opinion, aims to confirm “the plundered Palestinian right” and establishes a stage leading to peace.
He said that his country stresses the need to take practical and credible steps to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
Qatar
The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Ambassador Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, stressed that the draft resolution “comes in light of the deteriorating situation suffered by the brotherly Palestinian people, and the historical responsibility of the United Nations towards the Palestinian issue until it is settled in all its aspects in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions . ”
She said that Qatar affirms the continuation of its mediation efforts in partnership with Egypt and the United States of America, expressing its hope that these efforts will result in reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in order to release prisoners and detainees, ensure the continuous delivery of more humanitarian aid and protect civilians, which will pave the way for a comprehensive and just political solution to the conflict.
She stressed her country’s support for the position of the International Court of Justice and its call on all countries and international organizations not to recognize or provide support for illegal Israeli practices. The Qatari ambassador said: “Supporting the Palestinian draft resolution presented before us today is a humanitarian, moral and legal duty . “
Lebanon
Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Hadi Hashem, stressed that the lesson lies in the implementation regarding the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
Regarding Lebanon, he said, “Israel has persisted and continues to persist in its ongoing aggression against its sovereignty ,” adding that since October 8, 2023, “the Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon has continued, disregarding international resolutions and international law, including international humanitarian law and the most basic rules of humanity. This Israeli escalation on the ground is accompanied by a verbal escalation and ongoing threats against Lebanon and its people that could put the entire region in the eye of the storm . ”
He added that “the latest chapter of the Israeli crimes was the cyber attack that Lebanon was subjected to today,” which led, according to a preliminary toll, to the fall of thousands of victims in all Lebanese regions “and the killing of eleven people,” including a girl.
The Lebanese ambassador said: “This dangerous aggression, which amounts to a war crime, may result in fueling the conflict, and will also hinder the settlement efforts being worked on by international mediators and put the region once again in a state of panic . ”
He reiterated that the key to the solution is to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and implement Security Council Resolution 1701 , “stop Israeli violations” of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territory and people, withdraw from all occupied Lebanese territories, and resolve the reserved points along the recognized international borders.
International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion
The UN General Assembly had requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which was issued on July 19 and concluded that:
Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal,
And that it is obligated to end this illegal presence as soon as possible,
And the immediate cessation of all new settlement activities and the evacuation of all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory,
And to redress the damage caused to all natural or legal persons concerned in the occupied Palestinian territory,
And that all States are obliged not to recognize the legitimacy of the situation arising from this illegal presence,
And that international organizations, including the United Nations, are obligated not to recognize the legitimacy of the situation arising from this presence,
The United Nations, especially the General Assembly, which requested the advisory opinion, and the Security Council, should consider ways and measures to end Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible.
*The draft resolution was submitted by a number of countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey, Algeria, Djibouti, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, and the State of Palestine.
The UN General Assembly resolution is a new blow to Israel in terms of propaganda and diplomacy in general, and to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government seeking to liquidate the Palestinian cause in particular.
It also shows the growing global sense of anger at Israel’s disregard for international resolutions and international law in its dealings with the Palestinian people , as evidenced by the demands of representatives of member states for time-bound measures, the escalation of verbal expressions against the occupation’s behaviour, and the granting of additional privileges to the State of Palestine.
While this decision constitutes a new stage in strengthening the legitimacy of Palestinian rights , which have increased in intensity since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, despite the fact that various countries ignored, in their dealings with the decision, the reference to the natural and legal right of the Palestinians to resist the occupation.
In contrast, the members of the Assembly acknowledged, through the text of the resolution, the inability of the United Nations to enforce its decisions in light of the continued disregard by the occupying state for international law and UN resolutions.
International anger at the occupation:
The resolution lists the occupation’s ongoing violations of international law and resolutions, including “the retention and expansion of settlements, the construction of related infrastructure, including the wall, the exploitation of natural resources, the declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the comprehensive application of Israeli domestic law in East Jerusalem and its broad application in the West Bank.”
The setting of a timeframe for the implementation of the resolution was an additional indication of the extent of resentment over Israel’s procrastination and chronic rejection of UN resolutions. This included the detailed specification of the measures required of Israel, such as “withdrawing its military forces from the occupied Palestinian territories, including its airspace and sea space… ceasing settlement activities, and evacuating all settlers.”
In addition to “dismantling parts of the wall built by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, returning lands, properties and assets seized since 1967, allowing all Palestinians who were displaced during the occupation to return to their original places of residence, and redressing the damage caused to all natural and legal persons concerned in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The resolution called on the Swiss government to convene a conference – within 6 months – of the contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to address the necessary measures to enforce the Convention in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The resolution also called for holding an international conference under the auspices of the General Assembly during its 79th session – which begins on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 – “to implement the United Nations resolutions related to the question of Palestine and the two-state solution.” The additional privileges granted by the resolution to the State of Palestine, which are not usually given to a non-member state, such as allowing it to submit draft resolutions that it had previously requested from other states or groups, are a diplomatic response to the crimes of the occupation and its efforts to liquidate the Palestinian cause and its crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and beyond, within the limits of the powers of the General Assembly.
Support the advisory opinion of the Court of Justice:
The resolution gives international diplomatic impetus to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on July 19, 2024, on “the legal consequences of the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories,” which confirmed that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. International organizations, including the United Nations, are obliged not to recognize the legitimacy of the situation resulting from this illegal presence. The new General Assembly resolution emphasized some of the provisions of the Court’s decision, in particular its decision that “the obligations violated by Israel concern all States, and that, given the importance of the rights in question, all States may be considered to have a legal interest in their protection.”
Call to stop the aggression:
The resolution also called on the occupying state to “immediately comply with the orders of provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide filed by South Africa against Israel.” It also called on all states to stop providing or transferring arms, ammunition and related equipment to Israel in all cases “in which there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
In addition to its rejection of any changes that the occupying state seeks to impose on the status of the Gaza Strip, it stipulated that the General Assembly rejects “any attempt to bring about demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any measures that would reduce the area of the Gaza Strip, which constitutes an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The General Assembly rejects any attempt to make a demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip (Anatolia)
Call for accountability and compensation
The resolution gave impetus to efforts to hold Israel and its leaders accountable before international courts, as the resolution stressed “the imperative need to ensure accountability for all violations of international law, in order to put an end to impunity and ensure justice.” It also called for sanctions to be imposed on those involved in maintaining Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories, including with regard to settler violence. The resolution referred to the need to establish an international mechanism to redress all damages, losses or injuries resulting from Israel’s internationally unlawful actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
It called on Member States to establish an international register of damage, in coordination with the United Nations, and to strengthen and coordinate the process of collecting evidence and initiatives aimed at providing Israel with such reparation.
A setback for Israeli propaganda
The vote of more than two-thirds of the countries in the UN General Assembly for such a resolution constitutes a new blow to the international legitimacy of the occupying state, and to its propaganda and diplomatic efforts seeking to market its war as a just war to combat terrorism.
This matter is of exceptional sensitivity for a state that emerged through aggression in a region that differs from it in history, culture, language and religion, and whose “legal legitimacy” was based on the partition resolution issued by the United Nations in 1947, which creates a permanent point of weakness for it, which is its constant need for strong international support, as a condition for its continued existence. Therefore, it considers tampering with the foundations of this support a strategic threat, and it mobilizes its various diplomatic, media, security and economic capabilities to confront it.
In conclusion, this resolution seems to be an expression of the desperate international efforts to preserve the rules-based international order, while Israel has been violating it under the cover of the American veto for decades, undermining this order and leading to the logic of chaos and imposing facts by force, which disrupts the role of the United Nations as a means of preserving world peace; which the General Assembly referred to in the resolution by saying that it “strongly condemns the continued complete disregard by the Government of Israel for its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and its continued complete violation of those obligations, and stresses that these violations seriously threaten international peace and stability.”
Sources: United Nations General Assembly / Palestine Liberation Organization / Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestinian Question
