The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within a year and for the imposition of sanctions in the event of non-compliance.
UN member states adopted the non-binding resolution on Wednesday, with 124 votes in favor, 14 against and 43 abstentions, with the Palestinian delegation calling the adoption “historic.”
The move isolates Israel just days before world leaders are due to descend on New York for the United Nations General Assembly, with six days of speeches by world leaders starting September 24.
Here are some reactions to the vote from countries and international organizations:
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN
Riyad Mansour called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice.”
“This sends a clear message: the Israeli occupation must end as soon as possible and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination must be realized,” he said.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN
Danny Danon called the vote “a shameful decision that supports the diplomatic terrorism of the Palestinian Authority.”
“Instead of commemorating the anniversary of the October 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of the remaining 101 hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the tune of the Palestinian Authority, which supports the Hamas murderers,” he said.
Palestinian Authority
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution and urged countries around the world to take steps to pressure Israel to adhere to it.
“The international consensus around this resolution renews the hopes of our Palestinian people – who face aggression and genocide in Gaza 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
The Palestinian armed group said it “welcomes this adoption,” adding that it reflected “the solidarity of the international community with the struggle of the Palestinian people.”
Israel
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein told X that the resolution was “a distorted decision, disconnected from reality, which encourages terrorism and harms the chances of peace.”
UNITED STATES
The US mission to the UN called the resolution “one-sided,” stressing its failure to recognize that Hamas, “a terrorist organization,” still exercises power in Gaza and that Israel has the right to defend itself.
“This resolution will not deliver tangible progress for the Palestinians,” the United States said. “In fact, it could both complicate efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and hamper steps toward 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 majority of 124 countries clearly reflects the justice of the Palestinian cause, representing broad international recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination as a natural, legal and historical right.
The ministry expressed hope that all countries will comply with their obligations under international law and implement the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Gulf Cooperation Council
Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, the 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 it confirmed “the right of the Palestinian people to reclaim their occupied lands” and showed that Israel’s actions, including settlement expansion, lacked recognition at the regional and international levels.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
The OIC, which comprises 57 Muslim-majority states, said the UN General Assembly decision “expresses the international consensus” on the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
She 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
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement: “The United Nations General Assembly strongly reaffirmed its commitment to the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to an independent and sovereign State, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly.”
Amnesty International
Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the resolution “makes it very clear” that Israel’s 57-year occupation “can no longer be allowed to continue.”
“For decades, Israel’s illegal occupation has brought injustice, bloodshed and widespread suffering to Palestinians. Over the past 11 months, the systematic human rights violations that are the hallmark of Israel’s brutal occupation and apartheid system have escalated dramatically,” she said, adding that Israel should immediately comply with the resolution by withdrawing its forces from the occupied West Bank and Gaza and evacuating its settlers from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Human Rights Watch
Louis Charbonneau, the head of the international human rights organization at the UN, said: “Israel should immediately heed the demand of an overwhelming majority of UN member states.”
