Tue Sep 17 05:47:33 UTC 2024: ## World to Vote on Resolution Demanding Israeli Withdrawal from Occupied Palestinian Territories

**NEW YORK, September 17, 2024** – The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution demanding Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories within six months, a move that could significantly escalate tensions between Israel and the international community. The resolution, scheduled for a vote on Wednesday, September 18th, follows a landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July, which declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.

The resolution, if passed, would signal a strong global consensus against Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. With the General Assembly allowing all UN members to vote without a veto, the outcome could be a powerful statement of disapproval for Israel’s actions.

The vote comes amidst a backdrop of escalating violence in the occupied territories. Since last October, Israeli forces and armed settlers have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including children, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In Gaza, an ongoing Israeli military operation has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, with estimates placing the overall death toll in the hundreds of thousands.

The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has come under increasing criticism for its role in the conflict. While claiming to be working towards a ceasefire, the US has been accused of hindering peace negotiations and providing Israel with the means to carry out its military operations.

The General Assembly vote presents a crucial test for the international community’s commitment to upholding international law and ending the Israeli occupation. Should the resolution pass, it could pave the way for further action, including potential sanctions against Israel and the US.

“The world has rarely come together so unanimously since the founding of the United Nations,” stated authors Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies, who have written extensively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “This vote is a crucial step towards bringing sanity, humanity, and peace to our world.”

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