Fri Sep 20 06:01:56 UTC 2024: ## UN Demands Immediate Israeli Withdrawal from Occupied Palestinian Territory
**New York, September 19, 2024** – In a landmark vote, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Israel from the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) of East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. The resolution, submitted by the State of Palestine, was approved with a resounding 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions.
The resolution firmly condemns Israel’s continued presence in the OPT as “unlawful” and reiterates the ICJ ruling from July 2024, which declared Israel’s occupation illegal and in violation of international law. The resolution calls on Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in the OPT “as rapidly as possible.”
The UNGA vote follows widespread international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly its recent actions targeting Palestinian water infrastructure, which experts say amount to genocide. The resolution highlights the deliberate targeting of essential resources like water, which has left Palestinians in Gaza with an average daily water access of just 4.74 liters per person, a drastic decline from previous years and far below the World Health Organization’s minimum requirement.
The Israeli government has rejected the UNGA resolution, claiming it presents a “one-sided, fictional story” and ignoring the issue of occupation. However, the resolution underscores the need for Israel to address the underlying issue of its occupation, which creates the conditions for conflict and violence. The international community has called for an immediate end to the occupation, emphasizing the Palestinian right to self-determination and a just solution to the ongoing conflict.
The UNGA vote represents a significant step towards holding Israel accountable for its actions and underscores the global call for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and human rights.
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