By : Najla M. Shahwan
Jordan Daily – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Sep. 18 calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The resolution calls for Israel to withdraw unconditionally from the West Bank, Gaza, and eastern Jerusalem within 12 months.
The nonbinding resolution also demands the withdrawal of all Israeli forces and the evacuation of settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories “without delay.” And it urges countries to impose sanctions on those responsible for maintaining Israel’s presence in the territories and halt arms exports to Israel if they’re suspected of being used there.
In addition, the resolution calls for Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians for the damage caused by its occupation and urges countries to take steps to prevent trade or investments that maintain Israel’s presence in the territories.
Adopted by a two-thirds majority in a recorded vote ,124 countries voted in favor of the resolution at UN headquarters in New York City, while 14 countries voted against it, including Israel and the United States.
The 43 countries that abstained include US allies Australia, Canada, Germany, and Ukraine.
The (UNGA) document was based on an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of justice (ICJ) in July that declared the Israeli occupation is illegal and said all states are obliged not to “render aid or assistance in maintaining” it.
The world’s highest court ruled that Israel is “abusing its status as the occupying power” by building and expanding settlements, using the area’s natural resources, annexing and imposing permanent controls over lands, and undermining Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
The court issued the opinion after it was sought in 2022 by the General Assembly and as the U.N. and the vast majority of the international community consider the Palestinian territory as Israeli-occupied.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967.
It was forced to withdraw from Gaza under international pressure in 2005 but maintained a land, sea and air blockade over the enclave.
Although, the (ICJ) advisory opinion is not binding, but carries weight under international law and supports Palestinians’ rights in their lands.
The (UNGA) vote comes amid Israel’s devastating ongoing war on Gaza and its aggression in the West Bank, in which till date more than 42,000 Palestinians – the majority of them women and children – have been killed and more than 100,000 injured.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice.”
“It sends a clear message that Israel’s occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination must be realized,” he said.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Danny Danon, slammed the vote as “a shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism.”
“Instead of marking the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority, which backs the Hamas murderers,” Danon said.
In this connection, the United States mission to the U.N. called the resolution “one-sided,” pointing to its failure to recognize that Hamas, “a terrorist organization,” still exerts power in Gaza and to state that Israel has a right to defend itself from acts of terrorism.
“This resolution will not bring about tangible progress for Palestinians,” the U.S. said. “In fact, it could both complicate efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and impede reinvigorating steps toward a two-state solution, while ignoring Israel’s very real security concerns.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged Israel to heed the call to end its occupation.
The resolution asks U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to submit a report to the General Assembly within three months on putting the resolution in place, “including any actions taken by Israel, other states and international organizations, including the United Nations.”
“We fully abide by the decisions of the International Court of Justice,” Guterres told reporters. “I will implement any decision of the General Assembly in that regard.”
The resolution was the first to be formally put forward by the Palestinian Authority since it gained additional rights and privileges this month, including a seat among U.N. members in the assembly hall and the right to propose draft resolutions.
In May, the UNGA approved a vote on Palestine’s bid to become a full member of the global body, recommending the Security Council to “reconsider the matter favorably.”
The vote by the 193-member General Assembly was a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member – a move that would effectively recognize a Palestinian state – after the United States vetoed it in the U.N. Security Council.
The (UNGA) , whose mission includes promoting “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms”, includes every sovereign country in the world, so its Sep. 18 vote even not legally binding, underscores the depth of the international opposition to the Israeli occupation of Palestine .
UNGA resolution is a crucial step towards international recognition of the illegality of Israel’s practices.
It will also help enhance broad efforts to coordinate practical measures aimed at ensuring compliance with international law, ending the longest occupation in modern history, and implementing the two-state solution.
Najla M. Shahwan is Palestinian author, researcher and freelance journalist.She is also Chairwoman of the Palestinian Center for Children’s Literature ( PCCL ) , founder of Jana Woman Cultural Magazine and recipient of two prizes from the Palestinian Union of Writers.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Jordan Daily.
