United Nations, September 18, 2024 – The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday, drafted by Palestine, demanding that Israel end “its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months. The resolution garnered 124 votes in favor, with 43 abstentions, while Israel, the United States, and 12 other countries voted against it.
The resolution comes just days before world leaders gather in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to address the 193-member body on September 26.
The resolution welcomes a July advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared Israel’s occupation and settlement activities in Palestinian territories illegal, calling for their withdrawal. While the ICJ’s advisory opinion is non-binding, it carries significant weight in international law. The General Assembly resolution, which builds on the ICJ’s stance, sets a 12-month deadline for Israel to comply.
The resolution further urges countries to take concrete steps, including halting the importation of products from Israeli settlements and ceasing arms transfers to Israel, where there is a reasonable suspicion they could be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
This is the first formal resolution introduced by the Palestinian Authority since it gained additional privileges at the UN earlier this month, including a seat among members in the assembly hall and the right to propose draft resolutions.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged member states to vote against the resolution. While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight, unlike the Security Council where veto power can be exercised.
