The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory within one year and imposing sanctions if it fails to comply.
UN member states passed the non-binding resolution on Wednesday by 124 votes in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, with the Palestinian delegation hailing its adoption as “historic.”
The move leaves Israel isolated just days before world leaders travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, a six-day series of speeches by world leaders due to begin on September 24.
Some of the reactions from countries and international organisations to the vote include:
Palestinian UN Ambassador
Riyad Mansour called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice.”
“This sends a clear message that the Israeli occupation must end as soon as possible and the right of Palestinian people to self-determination must be realized,” he said.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations
Danny Danon slammed the vote as “a shameful decision that supports the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism.”
“Instead of condemning Hamas on the anniversary of the massacre on October 7 and calling for the release of all 101 remaining hostages, the UN General Assembly continues to do as the Palestinian Authority does in supporting Hamas’ killers,” he said.
Palestinian Authority
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution and called on countries around the world to take steps to pressure Israel to comply with it.
“The international agreement on this resolution renews hope for the Palestinian people, who are facing full-scale aggression and genocide in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, to realize their aspirations for freedom and independence and to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.
Hamas
Palestinian armed groups “welcome its adoption,” they said, adding that it reflected “the international community’s solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people.”
Israel
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said on Twitter the resolution was “a distorted decision that is divorced from reality, which encourages terrorism and undermines the chances of peace.”
united states of america
The US delegation to the UN said the resolution was “one-sided” and failed to acknowledge that the “terrorist organisation” Hamas remains powerful in Gaza and that Israel has the right to defend itself.
“This resolution will not deliver tangible progress for the Palestinians,” the U.S. said. “Indeed, it could complicate efforts to end the Gaza conflict and hinder efforts to revitalize a two-state solution, while ignoring Israel’s very real security concerns.”
Qatar
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the adoption of the resolution by a vast majority of 124 countries clearly reflects the legitimacy of the Palestinian cause and demonstrates that the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is widely recognised internationally as its natural, legal and historical right.
The ministry expressed expectation that all states would abide by their obligations under international law and implement the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people.
Gulf Cooperation Council
Jassem Mohammed Al Budaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, welcomed the UN General Assembly’s call on Israel to end its occupation of Palestine.
He said the resolution affirms “the right of the Palestinian people to the return of the occupied territories” and shows that Israel’s actions, including settlement expansion, are not recognized at the regional or international levels.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
The OIC, made up of 57 Muslim-majority countries, said the UN General Assembly’s decision “expresses international consensus” on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
He also called on the international community to “take individual and collective steps” to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under international law.
european union
“The General Assembly forcefully reaffirmed its commitment to realizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, that is, to an independent and sovereign state living side by side with Israel in peace and security, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
Amnesty International
Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the resolution made it “absolutely clear” that Israel’s 57-year occupation “cannot be allowed to continue any further.”
“Israeli illegal occupation has for decades inflicted massive injustice, bloodshed and suffering on the Palestinian people. Over the past 11 months, there has been a dramatic escalation of the systematic human rights violations that are the hallmark of Israel’s brutal occupation and apartheid system,” she said, adding that Israel should immediately comply with the resolution by withdrawing its troops from the occupied West Bank and Gaza and expelling settlers from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Human Rights Watch
“Israel should immediately comply with the demands of the overwhelming majority of UN member states,” said Louis Charbonneau, the UN representative for international human rights groups.