The United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote next week on a Palestinian draft resolution calling for Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within six months. This draft resolution, drafted by the Palestinian Authority, aims to act on a July advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that deemed Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and urged withdrawal as swiftly as possible.
The resolution, proposed by the Arab Group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement, is set for a vote on 18 September. The language of the draft could still be modified before the vote.
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon has criticized the resolution, urging the General Assembly to reject it and instead focus on condemning Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
While not legally binding, the ICJ advisory opinion carries significant international weight and may weaken global support for Israel. Similarly, while General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they hold considerable political significance.
Since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem began in 1967, Israel has built and expanded settlements in the West Bank. The conflict in Gaza, which intensified on October 7,2023, has resulted in significant casualties and humanitarian crises. The General Assembly had previously called for humanitarian truces and ceasefires in response to the escalating violence.