UNGA considering new draft resolution on Israel-Gaza war

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is considering a draft resolution that seeks to affirm a July advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is contrary to international law and that it should end.

The ICJ determined, among other things, that Israel’s policies and practices, such as its maintenance and expansion of settlements, were designed to “create irreversible effects on the ground” and, as such, “amount to annexation of large parts” of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The draft resolution introduced by Palestine “demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to do so no later than twelve months from the adoption of the current resolution,” which is expected to be voted on Wednesday.

In a sweeping advisory opinion, the ICJ found Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem and the West Bank was unlawful and called on the UNGA and the Security Council to consider further actions to ensure the occupation ends.

Almost two months later, there is a push in the UNGA to achieve just that, even though its decisions, like the advisory opinion, are not legally binding but reflect legal and global sentiment on any issues.

Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon rejected the effort, calling it diplomatic terrorism that uses the tools of diplomacy not to build bridges but to destroy them.

Israel’s key ally, the United States, expressed itself against the resolution.

Palestinians seek the territories captured by Israel after the 1967 War, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza for a future independent Palestinian State.

A decision on the General Assembly draft is expected by today as debate among member states continues.

Israel-Gaza War | UN considering new draft resolution: