The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a Palestinian resolution demanding that Israel cease its “unlawful presence” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank within one year, withdraw its military forces, and evacuate all settlers. The resolution comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank and nearing the first anniversary of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which was instigated by Hamas attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, stated that Palestinians are facing an “existential threat” and emphasized the need for Israel to end its prolonged occupation, allowing Palestinians to live in peace and freedom. On the other hand, Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, condemned the resolution as an attempt to dismantle Israel through diplomatic means, criticizing its failure to acknowledge Hamas’ actions and distorting facts.
Although the resolution would not carry legal weight, its level of support would indicate global opinion. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly does not have veto power. The resolution is a response to a ruling by the International Court of Justice in July, which declared Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories as illegitimate and called for its cessation.
Mansour highlighted that Palestinians reject a life of subjugation and stressed the necessity of a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas Greenfield, criticized the resolution for surpassing the ICJ ruling and failing to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization controlling Gaza.
The resolution also demands reparations from Israel for damages caused by its occupation and urges countries to prevent trade or investments sustaining Israel’s presence in the territories. It calls for accountability for violations of international law, imposition of sanctions on those upholding Israel’s presence, and cessation of arms exports to Israel if suspected of misuse.
Despite the resolution’s provisions, Mansour acknowledged that Israel is unlikely to adhere to its demands. The resolution, if passed, would serve as a symbolic representation of global sentiment towards the issue.
