Khaberni - The United Nations General Assembly voted on Tuesday night on a resolution calling for Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, enforcing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily their right to self-determination and their right to establish their independent state, and achieving a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem in accordance with its Resolution 194 dated December 11, 1948.
The resolution was supported by 151 countries, opposed by 11, and 11 countries abstained from voting.
The vote came on a resolution presented by Palestine, Jordan, Djibouti, Senegal, Qatar, Mauritania, as part of the activities of the 80th session, Agenda Item 35 of the General Assembly.
The Assembly reaffirmed the United Nations' enduring responsibility concerning the Palestinian issue until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law and related resolutions, and that achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is essential for establishing comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, reaffirming that the principle of equality of peoples and their right to self-determination is one of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
The resolution also reaffirms the principle that no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as legal, emphasizing the necessity to respect the unity and territorial integrity of the entire occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged not to obstruct the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination, including their right to establish their independent and sovereign state on the entire occupied Palestinian territory, and to live side by side in peace and security with Israel within internationally recognized secure boundaries, and that all states must ensure, with respect for the United Nations Charter and international law, no hurdles stemming from Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories prevent the exercise of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
The General Assembly affirmed the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the city of Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territory as a whole, including the wall and associated regimes, demanding their immediate cessation, condemning the use of any form of force against Palestinian civilians, especially children, in violation of international law, and stressing the importance of the safety and protection of all civilians and their welfare throughout the Middle East, and all acts of violence and terrorism against civilians on all sides.
It called for full compliance with international law for purposes including the protection of civilian lives and the cessation of the escalation of tensions, including refraining from provocative acts and speeches, and creating a stable environment.
It commended the efforts made by the Palestinian government, with international support, to establish and develop its institutions and infrastructure and to maintain them, despite the obstacles posed by the ongoing Israeli occupation, and the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an independent Palestinian state, emphasizing the need to encourage reconciliation among Palestinians.
The General Assembly emphasized the urgent need to reach, without delay, an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, the right of all countries in the region to live in peace within internationally recognized secure borders, repeating its call for the establishment of comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East without delay, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) dated December 23, 2016, the Madrid references, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative, and to an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and its steadfast support, in accordance with international law, for the two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized borders based on the pre-1967 boundaries.
It demanded that Israel, the occupying power, strictly comply with its obligations under international law, including as outlined in the opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, and to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories as soon as possible, and to cease all new settlement activities and evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories, and to put an end to its illegal actions, including the cancellation of all legislation and measures that establish or enhance the illegal situation against the Palestinian people, as well as all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition of any part of the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
It expressed its rejection of any attempt to demographically or territorially change the Gaza Strip, including measures that reduce the land area of Gaza, emphasizing that the Gaza Strip forms an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, reaffirming the firmness of the two-state solution, with the Gaza Strip being part of the Palestinian state.
It stressed in this regard the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority without delay, pointing to the principle that no acquisition of territory by force is lawful, hence the illegality of annexing any part of the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law and undermines the potentials for achieving a peace settlement based on the existence of two states, and places obstacles in the way of prospects for achieving a peaceful settlement and establishing just, permanent and comprehensive peace;
And it called on all states, in accordance with their obligations under the Charter and related Security Council resolutions, among other things, not to recognize any changes to the borders prior to 1967, including as it concerns Jerusalem, other than changes agreed upon by the parties through negotiations, including ensuring that agreements concluded with Israel do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over territories occupied by Israel in 1967, and not to discriminate in related treatment between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, and to refrain from providing aid or assistance in carrying out illegal settlement activities, including not providing Israel with any aid intended specifically for use in relation to settlements in the occupied territories, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 465 (1980) dated March 1, 1980, and to respect and ensure respect for international law, in all circumstances, including through establishing accountability measures in line with international law.
