Thu Sep 19 07:27:35 UTC 2024: ## UN Demands End to Israeli Occupation Within a Year
**UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19, 2024** – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory within 12 months. The resolution, adopted with 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, came during an emergency special session focused on Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The resolution demands that Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. It explicitly states that Israel’s presence in the occupied territory is illegal and constitutes a “wrongful act of a continuing character.”
The UNGA also calls for a two-state solution, urging the relaunch of a credible peace process to resolve the conflict. The resolution’s adoption follows a surge in tensions, including a recent Israeli offensive in Gaza that resulted in heavy casualties.
Mohamed Issa Abushahab, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN, emphasized the need for humanitarian aid, a ceasefire, and the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, reiterated the Palestinians’ demand for an independent and sovereign state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
While the resolution is non-binding, it represents a significant condemnation of Israel’s occupation by the international community and could serve as a catalyst for further action. The next 12 months will be critical in determining whether Israel will comply with the UNGA’s demand and whether a path towards a peaceful resolution can be found.
First Piper 