The UN will vote on a Palestinian resolution demanding Israel end its occupation
Associated PressSEP 12 2024
The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution on Wednesday calling for Israel to "end without delay its unlawful presence" in Palestinian areas within 12 months.
There were 124 votes in favor and 14 votes against the measure, along with 43 abstentions. Among those in opposition were Israel itself and its closest ally, the US.
It asks member states to stop importing products made in Israeli settlements and exporting weapons to Israel if they may potentially be used in occupied Palestine.Israel has been demanded to also evacuate all settlers and make reparations to Palestinians for damages, with calls for an embargo on arms that Israel might use in those areas.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has in the past virtually justified Hamas’s actions by citing Gaza’s “suffocating occupation.” This was evidence of the UN's systemic bias against Israel. Influenced by nations like Russia, China, and some Muslim-majority states, the UN often portrays Israel as an oppressor while downplaying atrocities committed by groups like Hamas.
It is crucial that the international community holds Israel accountable for its occupation of Palestinian territories. Many countries continue to supply Israel with weapons used in civilian harm. This undermines global legal standards and perpetuates humanitarian crises. To protect Palestinian lives and uphold international law, states must now take decisive steps against Israel.