UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly is poised to vote on a significant Palestinian resolution demanding Israel terminate its “unlawful presence” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank within one year, alongside calls for sanctions and an arms embargo.
Scheduled for Wednesday, the vote arrives as Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza nears its first anniversary, amidst escalating violence in the West Bank following Hamas attacks on October 7.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. has urged member states to reject the measure, labeling it a “reward for terrorism.” He emphasized the need for a resolution that condemns the violence perpetrated by Hamas rather than supporting a Palestinian agenda.
Should the resolution pass, it will not be legally binding but will reflect global sentiment regarding the conflict. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly does not have veto powers.
This resolution follows a July ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which deemed Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories unlawful and called for its cessation. The ICJ condemned Israel’s jurisdiction over the territories captured during the 1967 war, asserting violations of international law concerning land acquisition by force.
Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed that Palestinians are facing an “existential threat,” asserting that Israel has kept them “in shackles” and underscoring the urgency of terminating the occupation to allow Palestinians to reclaim their ancestral lands.
The resolution demands an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces, a halt to all new settlement construction, and the evacuation of settlers from Palestinian territories. Additionally, it calls for reparations to be paid to Palestinians for damages incurred during the occupation and urges nations to implement sanctions and trade restrictions supporting Israel’s presence.
The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. raised concerns over the resolution’s flaws, arguing that it fails to acknowledge Hamas as a terrorist entity and overlooks Israel’s right to self-defense. She cautioned that the resolution could hinder efforts to resolve the conflict and advance towards a two-state solution.
Mansour noted that over 60 countries have expressed interest in addressing the assembly prior to the vote. Initially, the Palestinian draft demanded an end to the occupation within six months but was adjusted to a year to address concerns from various countries.
The central aim of the resolution is to align with the ICJ ruling, prompting the international community to pressure Israel to modify its practices regarding the occupied territories. Mansour indicated that should the resolution be ignored, a subsequent one would likely be proposed.
Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Mideast war, with Palestinians seeking these regions for a future independent state. Generally, the international community regards all three areas as occupied territory.
