The United Nations General Assembly voted Tuesday night on a draft resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and to uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people—primarily their right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent state, and a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue in accordance with Resolution 194 dated December 11, 1948.
اضافة اعلان
The resolution was supported by 151 countries, opposed by 11, and 11 abstained.
The resolution, submitted jointly by Palestine, Jordan, Djibouti, Senegal, Qatar, and Mauritania, was discussed under Item 35 of the General Assembly’s 80th session agenda.
It reaffirmed the UN’s enduring responsibility regarding the Palestinian issue until a comprehensive resolution is achieved in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. It emphasized that achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue—the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict—is essential for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. The resolution underscored the principle of equality among peoples and their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter.
The Assembly reiterated that acquisition of land by force is prohibited, stressed the importance of respecting the unity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, and stated that Israel, as the occupying power, must not obstruct the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination, including establishing a sovereign, independent state on the full extent of occupied Palestinian land and living alongside Israel in peace and security within recognized safe borders. All states are called upon to ensure, in line with the UN Charter and international law, that no obstacles arising from Israel’s illegal presence hinder Palestinians’ exercise of self-determination.
The resolution condemned Israeli settlement activities and all unilateral measures aimed at altering the demographic or territorial composition of Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories, including the separation barrier and its associated regime. It called for the immediate cessation of such actions and any use of force against Palestinian civilians, especially children, in violation of international law, emphasizing the protection and well-being of all civilians in the Middle East.
The General Assembly also welcomed the efforts of the Palestinian government, with international support, to establish and strengthen its institutions despite ongoing Israeli occupation, and reaffirmed the need to encourage Palestinian reconciliation.
It emphasized the urgent necessity to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and affirmed the right of all regional states to live in peace within internationally recognized secure borders. The Assembly reiterated calls for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East based on relevant UN resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid framework, the principle of land-for-peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, supporting a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in recognized borders based on pre-1967 boundaries.
The resolution called on Israel, as the occupying power, to fully comply with its obligations under international law, including the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on July 19, 2024. Israel is urged to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories immediately, halt all new settlement activities, evacuate settlers, annul all laws and measures enforcing its illegal status, and refrain from altering the demographic composition of any part of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
It also rejected any attempts to impose demographic or territorial changes in Gaza, reaffirming Gaza as an integral part of the 1967 occupied territories and confirming the two-state solution, with Gaza included within the Palestinian state. The resolution stressed the importance of unifying Gaza and the West Bank under Palestinian authority without delay and reaffirmed that acquiring territory by force, including annexation of any part of the occupied territories, violates international law and undermines a two-state solution.
Finally, all states were called upon, in accordance with their obligations under the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions, not to recognize any changes to pre-1967 borders, including regarding Jerusalem, except those mutually agreed through negotiations. States must refrain from supporting illegal settlement activities and ensure accountability in line with international law.
(Agencies)
