The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday, 18th September, demanding that Israel completely withdraw from Palestinian areas within a year, and called for an embargo on arms that Israel might utilise in those areas.
The resolution urged Israel to “end without delay its unlawful presence” in “Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months, encompassing all soldiers and civilians.
The resolution welcomed a ruling by the International Court of Justice in July, which stated that Israel’s control of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be relinquished.
The advisory from the highest United Nations court, also known as the World Court, indicated that this should be achieved “as rapidly as possible,” while the General Assembly resolution set a 12-month deadline.
The UN also urged states to “take steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, and related equipment to Israel… where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The resolution was sponsored by the “State of Palestine” and 29 other countries, predominantly Muslim nations.
124 countries supported the measure, 14 opposed it, and 43 abstained. Israel, the US, Czechia, and Argentina were the largest countries opposing, along with Pacific island nations. Paraguay and Malawi also opposed the measure.
Many European nations abstained, including Ukraine, the UK, Germany, and Italy, as did Canada and Australia.
Israel stated that the resolution overlooks 7 October, when the Palestinian terror group Hamas conducted a devastating cross-border attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and during which terrorists abducted 251 individuals who were taken as hostages to Gaza.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the decision as “cynical international politics” that would encourage terrorism and undermine the prospects for peace.
The resolution, the ministry asserted in a statement posted on X, bolsters Hamas and “the Iranian terrorist state that supports it,” while conveying a message that “terrorism pays.” It also makes a hostage deal less likely, the ministry contended, referring to efforts by international mediators to negotiate a ceasefire in exchange for the release of captives.
“Israel will respond accordingly,” the statement threatened but did not lay out exactly how it may retaliate against the Palestinian Authority for the move.
“The Palestinian-led UN resolution which calls for unilateral moves against Israel, will not end the conflict, but will embolden an already RADICALIZED Palestinian Authority,” the ministry added on X. “Peace can and will only be achieved through direct negotiations and the de-radicalization of the PA.”
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