UNGA Supports Resolution Demanding Israel To Withdraw From Occupied Territories

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In a move highlighting Israel’s increasing isolation on the global stage, the UNGA supports resolution which decisively demands Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories within a year.

This non-binding resolution follows a July advisory ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called on Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in the territories and halt all settlement activities immediately.

The resolution passed by 124 votes to 14, with 43 abstentions, drawing applause in the General Assembly chamber in New York.

While the General Assembly has passed numerous resolutions criticizing Israel, including two recent ones since the conflict began on October 7, this is the first since 1982 to call for sanctions against Israel. The resolution gains additional weight as it seeks to enforce an ICJ ruling, asserting that “Israel’s security concerns cannot override the principle prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force.”

The resolution passed by 124 votes to 14, with 43 abstentions, drawing applause in the General Assembly chamber in New York.

This resolution is also the first submitted by Palestine since the UN General Assembly voted in May to enhance Palestine’s UN observer status, allowing its delegation to propose resolutions. That vote followed the U.S. veto in the UN Security Council, blocking Palestine’s bid for full UN membership.

The resolution urges member states to stop importing products from Israeli settlements and to halt arms transfers to Israel if they suspect such equipment could be used in the occupied territories. It also calls on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to report within three months on efforts to encourage Israeli cooperation.

Although the U.S. has no veto power in the General Assembly, it lobbied its allies to reduce the number of votes against Israel. The resolution, however, does not carry legal force, and in Israel, it is expected to reinforce the belief that the UN is biased against the country.

In October, the General Assembly voted 120 to 14, with 45 abstentions, to demand more humanitarian aid access to Gaza. In December, it called for an immediate ceasefire by 153 votes to 10, with 23 abstentions.

The resolution, however, does not carry legal force, and in Israel, it is expected to reinforce the belief that the UN is biased against the country.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, opposed the latest resolution, criticizing it for being one-sided and selectively interpreting the ICJ’s opinion. She argued that it did not contribute to the goal of two states living in peace and failed to condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization.

During the debate, Egypt’s representative, Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud, voiced frustration at the protection the U.S. offers Israel from international legal and political judgments. He stated that Israel’s occupation, settlements, and extremist settlers would not be sustainable if countries respecting international law and the ICJ’s ruling decided to cut ties with Israel.

He emphasized that ending the occupation and curbing Israel’s aggression toward the Palestinians is essential for maintaining international security and regional stability. He also condemned Israel’s actions against the UN, accusing it of killing over 220 UN staff members and criminalizing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by labeling it a terrorist organization.