Non-binding resolution demands Israel ends presence in Palestine territory within 12 months

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a non-binding resolution on Sept 18 demanding an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months by an overwhelming margin.

The resolution was adopted with 124 votes in favor, 14 against and 43 abstentions, during the UNGA’s 10th emergency special session considering Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The resolution demanding that Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice, was introduced by the State of Palestine on Sept 17 and was co-sponsored by more than two dozen nations.

The UNGA resolution “demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution.”

The UNGA also demands that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice.

Introducing the draft resolution on Sept 17, Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said the Palestinian people have been steadfast in the pursuit of their inalienable rights, just like all other citizens worldwide who seek self-determination.

“The Palestinians want to live, not survive — they want to be safe in their homes, they want their children to go to school without fear. They want to be free in reality as they are in spirit,” said Mansour.

In remarks before the vote, Mohamed Issa Abushahab, the permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, said the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza must be addressed through unimpeded access to those in need, a ceasefire deal and the full implementation of all related Security Council resolutions.

A credible peace process must be relaunched to work towards a two-State solution to diffuse this conflict, he said, expressing support for the State of Palestine’s full statehood and UN membership. “The time has come to end the suffering,” he noted.

However, Israel, instead of stopping the Gaza conflict, is spreading the conflict to occupied West Bank, and to Lebanon. Continued attacks on schools and hospitals in the name of targeting so-called militants have caused dozens more casualties in the past days in Gaza Strip still.

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has declared the start of a “new phase” in the war, saying after months of fighting against Hamas in Gaza, “the center of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces”.

And a day after simultaneous explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah on Sept 17, more communication devices exploded in coordinated attacks across Israel’s neighbor.

Lebanese officials reported that explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios killed at least 26 people, including two children, and injured more than 3,200 others across Lebanon.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed by reports that a large number of communication devices exploded across Lebanon and in Syria, his spokesman said.

“The secretary-general is deeply alarmed by reports that a large number of communication devices exploded across Lebanon, as well as in Syria, on Sept. 17 and 18, killing at least eleven people, including children, and injuring thousands,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement on Sept 18.

Dujarric said the UN chief urged all concerned actors to exercise maximum restraint to avert any further escalation, and urged the parties to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities to restore stability.

There are media reports that the US had advance notice of a second attack inside Lebanon.

But US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the US was not involved in the blasts.

On Sept 16, a Chinese envoy urged the United States to take tangible actions to push Israel to cease its military operations in the Gaza Strip without delay.

“We urge the United States to show a responsible attitude, use the significant influence it holds over the party, and take tangible actions to push Israel to cease its military operations without delay, as demanded by the Council resolutions, to give the long-suffering Palestinian people a chance to live,” Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Geng noted that over the past year, despite strong joint international calls for a ceasefire and the cessation of killings, Israel has not halted its military operations in Gaza, which have led to the death of over 41,000 Palestinian civilians.

“This is alarming. This is past belief,” the ambassador stressed.

“China supports further actions on the part of this Council to put out the flames of war, mitigate the humanitarian disaster, and bring peace to the region as soon as possible,” he said.