Arab and Islamic countries and organizations welcomed – yesterday, Wednesday – the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967 within 12 months, describing it as historic and calling for its tangible translation.
This came in official statements issued by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, amid Palestinian welcome and Israeli rejection.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly – in its emergency special session – of a resolution drafted by the Palestinian Authority calling on Israel to end its “illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories” within 12 months.
The Palestinian Ministry considered the decision a decisive and historic moment for the Palestinian cause and for international law. It also thanked the member states that adopted, sponsored and voted for the decision submitted by the State of Palestine, which was adopted by a majority of 124 votes, while 43 countries abstained from voting, and 14 countries opposed the decision.
She explained that the positive vote of more than two-thirds of the UN members is a referendum on an international consensus that the occupation must end, its practices and crimes must stop, and its forces, including the settlers, must be withdrawn.
For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Hamas considered – in a statement – this vote an expression of the true international will supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.
She added that this decision expresses the international support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom and independence.
Hamas said the decision was an important victory for the Palestinian people and an affirmation of the extent of Israel’s isolation.
She also expressed her appreciation to the countries that voted in favor of the resolution, and called on them to take further measures to isolate Israel and pressure it to stop the war.
The draft resolution aims to support the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice last July, calling for an end to the illegal Israeli occupation, the dismantling of the settlements and their illegal system and the apartheid wall, and the evacuation of all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied Jerusalem.
The UN General Assembly approved – by a majority of 124 votes to 14 – the first resolution submitted by Palestine calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories within 12 months.
The Permanent Mission of Palestine to the United Nations submitted its first draft resolution to the General Assembly on Tuesday, following the additional rights it gained through a vote in the General Assembly last May.
The draft resolution, co-sponsored by more than 40 countries, was voted on in an emergency special session entitled “Illegal Israeli measures in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory.”
International consensus
Qatar announced – in a statement by its Foreign Ministry – its welcome of the UN resolution, stressing that the adoption of the resolution by a majority of 124 countries clearly reflects the justice of the Palestinian cause, and represents broad international recognition of the right of the brotherly Palestinian people to self-determination, which is a natural, legal and historical right.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that all countries would interact with this decision by complying with their obligations under international law, and would seek to implement the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and would not recognize the legitimacy of the situation resulting from the occupation or provide assistance to maintain the situation resulting from it.
Doha also reiterated its firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution on ending the illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, which was voted on during the emergency special session.
The Kingdom stressed the need to take practical and credible steps to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
The UAE also welcomed – in a statement by its UN mission – the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution, and stressed that the International Court of Justice’s ruling is clear that the Israeli occupation is illegal and it is time for it to end.
She also urged the Security Council to translate the advisory opinion into concrete steps.
Jordan also welcomed the UN resolution in a statement by the Foreign Ministry, stressing that the adoption of the draft resolution reflects the international will and international law to support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent, sovereign state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Jordanian statement stressed the need to oblige Israel to implement what was included in the resolution regarding ending its illegal policies, including the immediate cessation of all new settlement activities and the evacuation of all settlers from Palestinian land.
Historic decision
In a related context, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomed – in a statement – the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a historic resolution on the illegitimacy of the Israeli occupation.
The organization considered that this decision expresses the international consensus on the justice of the Palestinian cause and its steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
It called on all countries to assume their responsibilities and take individual and collective measures to ensure that the Israeli occupation complies with all its obligations under international law and international legitimacy resolutions.
The Gulf Cooperation Council also welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine. Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi stressed – in a statement – the need to end the illegal presence of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories and the right of the Palestinian people to reclaim their lands.
Al-Badawi said that the measures taken by the Israeli occupation forces, including settlement expansion and geographical change, are considered illegal and unlawful and do not receive any recognition at the regional or international level, stressing the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities towards implementing this resolution.
Earlier, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UN resolution, according to the Palestinian News Agency. He stressed that the Palestinian draft resolution receiving a two-thirds vote from the members of the UN General Assembly represents an international consensus on the justice of the Palestinian cause and a victory for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected this decision in a statement, saying that it was disconnected from reality and harmed the chances of peace.
Occupation and expansion
Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, and has since been building and expanding settlements in the West Bank.
In July 2023, the Israeli government claimed it had the “right to impose its sovereignty” over the West Bank, saying that “the Jewish people have the exclusive right to self-determination in these lands.”
International law prohibits Israel from annexing any parts of the West Bank, according to numerous UN statements in recent years.
The UN vote yesterday comes as Israel has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with full American support, which has left more than 136,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and deadly famine.
On October 27, the General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza by a majority of 120 votes, and in December 153 countries voted in favor of demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire rather than simply calling for one.
In contempt of the international community, Israel continues this war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to stop it immediately, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip.