The United Nations General Assembly held an emergency special session on September 18, 2024, where member states voted on a resolution calling for Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
The resolution was approved with 124 votes in favour, 14 members opposed it, and 43 abstained. The resolution demands that Israel end its illegal occupation within 12 months.
This decision represents one of the strongest calls from the UN, reinforcing the need to resolve the decades-long conflict. Israel is required to comply with international law, as outlined by the International Court of Justice.
The resolution also calls for the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from occupied Palestinian territories and the cessation of all illegal policies and practices, including settlement activities.
Additionally, the resolution emphasizes the importance of dismantling parts of the separation wall built by Israel and returning the lands confiscated since 1967. It reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and establishing an independent sovereign state.
The resolution urges all nations to adhere to international law. It proposes a conference during the 79th session of the General Assembly to implement UN resolutions on Palestine and the two-state solution.
It also calls for a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to discuss necessary measures for its application in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The resolution requests the UN Secretary-General to submit a report within three months on the implementation of the resolution to assess the compliance of the concerned parties.
On the other hand, 14 countries opposed the resolution and 43 abstained. Papua New Guinea and Argentina were among the opposing nations. Papua New Guinea expressed concern that the resolution required unilateral concessions from Israel.
Argentina argued that the resolution exceeded the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, though it supported calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and a negotiated resolution of the conflict.
Germany, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, and Kiribati were among the countries that abstained. Germany explained that the resolution exceeded the advisory opinion on several points.
Kiribati emphasized the need for a bilateral approach to achieve peace and called for a two-state solution. Ecuador criticized the resolution’s “artificial timeline.”
The United States also criticized the resolution for lacking clarity on advancing the two-state solution. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the resolution was one-sided and did not contribute to achieving the two-state solution.
In contrast, several Arab countries urged the General Assembly members to vote in favour of the resolution, considering it a show of support for the Palestinian people’s struggle to end the Israeli occupation.
These nations viewed the resolution as strengthening the UN’s credibility in supporting a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue, with some describing the ICJ’s advisory opinion as a “historic turning point.”
The General Assembly had requested the advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which issued its ruling on July 19, confirming that Israel’s continued occupation is illegal.
The court ruled that the occupation must be ended immediately, all settlement activities must cease, settlers must be evacuated, and compensation must be provided to all those affected by the occupation.
The court also affirmed that all states are obligated not to recognize the illegal status created by this occupation and urged the UN to take steps to end the situation.
