The Palestinians have expressed their intention to introduce a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This resolution aims to solidify the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, which deemed Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories as illegal. The resolution would also establish a timeline for the end of this occupation, although it would not hold legal binding power. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, emphasized the urgency of putting an end to Israel’s occupation, stating that they are no longer willing to wait for change to occur.
The court’s ruling on July 19 strongly condemned Israel’s control over territories that were seized 57 years ago. The decision called for the cessation of the occupation and an immediate halt to settlement construction. Following this ruling, Mansour highlighted the importance of the General Assembly resolution in pushing forward towards a resolution to the long-standing conflict.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon did not address the Palestinians’ resolution plan or the court’s ruling during his speech to the council. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the court’s nonbinding opinion, emphasizing the historical connection of the Jewish people to the territories in question. Netanyahu firmly stated that no court decision can alter the historical truth of the Jewish people’s ties to these lands.
Mansour did not reveal the specific timeline that the Palestinians intend to propose in the General Assembly resolution. However, he indicated that this resolution would be a significant step towards achieving a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine coexist independently and peacefully. On the other hand, Netanyahu, who leads a government against Palestinian statehood, has consistently opposed the concept of a two-state solution that the United States advocates for, citing security concerns.
Additionally, Mansour shared that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to visit Gaza and has invited world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and members of the Security Council, to witness the suffering of the Palestinian people. Mansour appealed for support in facilitating Abbas’ access to Gaza, which is currently controlled by Israel. Meanwhile, Danon reiterated Israel’s stance that the Palestinian territory’s future hinges on the removal of Hamas, framing it as a prerequisite for Gaza’s residents to determine their own future with support from regional partners.