After the stroke of midnight, the Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised a barrier on the Friendship Bridge straddling the Danube River
world1 day ago
UN member states voted on Wednesday to formally demand an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months and the imposition of sanctions for non-compliance.
The non-binding resolution, which Israel claimed would fuel violence, calling it "distorted" and "cynical", is based on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) saying the occupation since 1967 was "unlawful".
There were 124 votes in favour, 14 against and a notable 43 abstentions, with the Palestinian delegation heralding the adoption as "historic".
Arab countries called the special session just days before dozens of world leaders meet at UN headquarters to address the kick-off of this year's General Assembly.
The move also comes weeks ahead of the one-year anniversary of Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel, which unleashed the devastating and ongoing retaliatory war in Gaza.
The resolution — the first introduced by the Palestinian delegation itself under new rights gained this year — demands Israel "brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
It calls for a withdrawal "no later than 12 months" from the resolution's adoption. A previous draft gave six months.
"The idea is you want to use the pressure of the international community in the General Assembly and the pressure of the historic ruling by the ICJ to force Israel to change its behaviour," said Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour on Monday.
Israel firmly rejected the resolution. "This is what cynical international politics looks like," foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said on X.
He said it was "a distorted decision that is disconnected from reality, encourages terrorism and harms the chances for peace".
Hamas said it "welcomes the adoption", saying it reflected "the international community's solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle".
The resolution "demands" the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories, a halt to new settlements, the return of seized land and property, and the possibility of return for displaced Palestinians.
It also calls on states "to take steps towards ceasing" arms provisions to Israel when there are "reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
"The Palestinians want to live — not survive. They want to be safe in their homes," Mansour said ahead of the vote on Tuesday.
The United States voted against the resolution as did Hungary, the Czech Republic and several smaller island nations.
While the Security Council is largely paralysed on the Gaza issue — with the United States repeatedly vetoing censures of its ally Israel — the General Assembly has adopted several texts in support of Palestinian civilians amid the current war.
No country in the General Assembly has veto power.
In May, the assembly overwhelmingly supported a largely symbolic resolution on full Palestinian membership at the UN, garnering 143 votes in favour and nine against, with 25 abstentions.
The push had previously been vetoed by Washington at the Security Council.
Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, said "Israel should immediately heed the demand of an overwhelming majority of UN member states".
After the stroke of midnight, the Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised a barrier on the Friendship Bridge straddling the Danube River
world1 day ago
At least 76 deaths were recorded in about 20 accidents last year, making it the deadliest year for migrants who are taking ever greater risks to evade Britain's border control
world1 day ago
The revolutionary song
world1 day ago
Riyadh's air bridge will be followed by another land bridge in the coming days, says KSrelief's top official Abdullah Al Rabeeah
world1 day ago
Reporters Without Borders ranked Syria second-last on its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, ahead only of Eritrea and behind Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
world1 day ago
The world welcomed the New Year with celebrations and festivities, while we witnessed 2025 begin with the first Israeli massacre in the town of Jabalia just after midnight, says Gaza official
world1 day ago
With time zones spanning the globe, 2025 arrived at different times in various countries, creating a staggered celebration around the world
world2 days ago
Humanitarian agencies repeatedly warn that not enough aid was reaching Palestinians in need due in part to looting as well as Israeli restrictions
world2 days ago