The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly supported a resolution demanding Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank within a year, with 124 member states voting in favor and the US among those abstaining. The resolution, while not legally binding, calls for sanctions on those maintaining Israel’s presence in the territories. It also urges reparations for Palestinian damages caused by the occupation.
Palestinian UN Ambassador, Riyad Mansour, hailed the resolution as a crucial step towards freedom and justice, while Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, criticized it as backing diplomatic terrorism.
The resolution follows an advisory opinion by the ICJ declaring Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories as unlawful. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also called on Israel to end its occupation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is required to submit a report on implementing the resolution within three months. Mansour believes Israel will ignore the resolution, prompting the Palestinians to push for a stronger one in the future. The vote underscores international support for ending the Israeli occupation and realizing Palestinian self-determination.
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