UN General Assembly Calls for End to Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories

The United Nations General Assembly approved a draft resolution calling on Israel to end its "illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories" within 12 months. This resolution was voted on Wednesday, September 19, with 124 votes in favor, 43 abstentions, and 12 votes against. The United States and Israel voted against the draft resolution. The U.S. voted against this resolution despite Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, accusing the Israeli army two days earlier in a Security Council meeting of attacking schools, humanitarian workers, and civilians in Gaza, indicating increasing U.S. dissatisfaction with its ally's actions in the Gaza war. The resolution not only calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from Palestinian territories but also demands a halt to new settlements, the return of confiscated lands and properties, and the possibility for displaced Palestinians to return. Reuters notes that this action isolates Israel just days before the UN's annual gathering in New York next week. The resolution emphasizes that if its provisions are not implemented by Israel, sanctions will be imposed against the country. Kamala Harris once again called for an end to the war in Gaza. The resolution demands that Israel "immediately end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly on September 26, alongside Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, among 193 members of the assembly. The resolution welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice presented in July, emphasizing that Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and settlements is "illegal" and that Israel must "withdraw" from them. The advisory opinion of the UN's highest court stresses that this action should be taken "as soon as possible"; however, the General Assembly resolution sets a 12-month deadline for its implementation. Israel has described this non-binding resolution as an action that incites "violence." The Netanyahu government had previously warned that if this resolution, proposed by the Palestinian Authority, was approved at the UN, it would lead to the "collapse" of that authority. Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, stated on Monday that the approval of the resolution amounts to "rewarding terrorism" and sends the message to the world that the brutal killing of children, the assault on women, and the abduction of innocent civilians is a valuable tactic. Danon's remarks refer to the killing of over 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis and the abduction of 251 Israeli citizens during the attack by the extremist group Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7 last year. 101 of the abducted Israeli citizens are still held by the extremist group Hamas.