The United Nations held an emergency session on 18 September 2024, where the final vote on the legal consequences of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories took place at UN Headquarters in New York.
- 124 countries voted for a UN resolution demanding an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, with 43 abstentions and 14 votes against the resolution.
- Israel and the USA criticized the vote as potentially fueling violence and being inflammatory.
The non-binding resolution calls for the end of the Israeli occupation within 12 months and sanctions for non-compliance, following an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice deeming the occupation since 1967 as “unlawful.”
Despite objections from Israel, the resolution passed with overwhelming support, with the Palestinian delegation hailing it as “historic.”
The resolution’s demands include the withdrawal of Israeli forces, halt to new settlements, return of seized land, and cessation of arms provisions to Israel. The move aims to pressure Israel to change its behavior and bring about peace in the region.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield criticized the resolution, while the majority of UN member states supported the call for the end of the occupation.
