The Question of Palestine and the General Assembly

Empty GA Hall

A general view of the General Assembly Hall. UN Photo/Sophia Paris

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations, composed of representatives of all Member States.  The question of Palestine was first brought before the General Assembly in 1947. By resolution 181 (II), the Assembly decided to partition Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish, with Jerusalem placed under a special international regime. After the 1948 war, the Assembly by resolution 194 (III) of 1949 established the Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP) to help the parties reach a final settlement, while reaffirming the rights of Palestine refugees to return and restitution. UNRWA, a Palestine refugee agency, was established by the Assembly the same year.

In 1974, the question of Palestine was re-introduced in the Assembly’s agenda. Resolution 3236 (XXIX) reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty, and the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property. In 1975, the Assembly established the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The question of Palestine and related issues have been the subject of numerous resolutions and decisions adopted by the Assembly’s regular, special and emergency sessions.

On 29 November 2012 the Assembly granted Palestine non-member observer State status in the UN. The relevant issues on the agenda of the Assembly and its subsidiary organs, such as the Human Rights Council include the right of Palestinians to self-determination, their sovereignty over natural resources, assistance, refugees, IDPs, UNRWA, human rights, Israeli settlements, peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and Jerusalem, among others. In 2024 the Assembly demanded that Israel end its occupation in 12 month.

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GA’s Resolutions on Question of Palestine

Date Title Subject Symbol
07-Dec-1970 UNRWA Working Group on Financing established – GA resolution Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/2656 (XXV)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

30-Nov-1970 Right of peoples to self-determination/People of Palestine/Struggle by any means – GA resolution Agenda Item, Armed conflict, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Self-determination, Statehood-related A/RES/2649
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Resolution

04-Nov-1970 Mideast situation/Establishment of a just and lasting peace/ Respect for the rights of the Palestinians/ Special Representative – GA resolution Agenda Item, Envoy, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Middle East situation, Negotiations and agreements, Palestine question, Peace proposals and efforts A/RES/2628 (XXV)
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Resolution

24-Oct-1970 GA Resolution adopted on the report of the Six Committee – Declarations on principles of International Law on friendly relations and international cooperation Legal issues A/RES/2625 (XXV)
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Declaration, Resolution

11-Dec-1969 Human rights situation in occupied territories – GA resolution Fourth Geneva Convention, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Occupation A/RES/2546 (XXIV)
Sources:

General Assembly, Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices

Type

Resolution

10-Dec-1969 Palestine refugees/UNRWA reports/Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people reaffirmed – GA resolutions Humanitarian relief, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, NGOs/Civil Society, Occupation, Palestine question, Refugees and displaced persons, Right of return, Statehood-related A/RES/2535(XXIV)A-C
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

19-Dec-1968 Palestine refugees/UNRWA reports – GA resolution Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/2452(XXIII)(A-C)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

19-Dec-1968 Israeli practices/Establishment of the SpCttee – GA resolution Fourth Geneva Convention, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Legal issues, Occupation, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem A/RES/2443 (XXIII)
Sources:

General Assembly, Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices

Type

Resolution

19-Dec-1967 Palestine refugees/UNRWA reports – GA resolutions Humanitarian relief, Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/2341(XXII) (A+B)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

18-Dec-1967 Definition of aggression – GA resolution Armed conflict, Arms control and regional security issues, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Incidents, Peace proposals and efforts, Peacekeeping, Security issues A/RES/2330(XXII)
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Resolution

Showing 10 documents of 915 found.