A supermajority in the UN General Assembly just adopted a nonbinding resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory by this time next year.
The resolution was adopted on Wednesday, 18 September, with 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, during the UNGA's 10th emergency special session considering Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Xinhua news agency reported.
On Tuesday, 17 September, the State of Palestine presented a resolution obliging Israel to comply with all of its legal duties according to international law, including advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice; it was co-sponsored by more than two dozen countries.
Under this new resolution, the UNGA "demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution."
The UNGA further insists that Israel should promptly respect all the international obligations it is obligated to as legated through international law, and as stated in the International Court of Justice.
Speaking before the vote, the permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, Mohamed Issa Abushahab, said that a humanitarian tragedy that is Gaza calls for unimpeded access to those in need, a ceasefire deal, and the full implementation of all related Security Council resolutions.
A credible peace process must be relaunched to work towards a two-State solution to diffuse this conflict, he said, expressing support for the State of Palestine's full statehood and UN membership.
"The hour has come to end suffering," he noted. On Tuesday, introducing the draft resolution, Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He pointed out that the Palestinian people have remained steadfast in the pursuit of their inalienable rights, as do all other citizens across the world who desire self-determination.
"The Palestinians want to live, not survive — they want to be safe in their homes, they want their children to go to school without fear. They want to be free in reality as they are in spirit," Mansour said.
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