2024 Annual Report of Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to the General Assembly (A/79/35)

31 August 2024

United Nations General Assembly

Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

A/79/35

Official Records
Seventy-ninth Session
Supplement No. 35

Chapter I – Introduction

1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/22, adopted on 30 November 2022. It covers the implementation by the Committee of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2023/1), formulated to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people, mobilizing efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, enhancing international solidarity with the Palestinian people and supporting the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity-building efforts towards promoting a viable and sustainable independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine during the reporting period, from 2 September 2023 to 31 August 2024.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing engagement with Member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international conferences, including in virtual format, capacity-building and advocacy activities organized by the Committee and other mandated activities carried out by the Division for Palestinian Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.

Chapter II – Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine

7. The question of Palestine has remained on the agenda of the United Nations for more than 76 years. That period has been marked by a 57-year-long illegal occupation by Israel, grave breaches of international law, including international human rights and international humanitarian law, a 17-year-long blockade of the Gaza Strip and the continuing plight of millions of Palestine refugees. Since October 2023, the devastating military campaign being conducted by Israel in Gaza and increased Israeli military and settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has brought heightened attention around the world to the long-standing injustice and suffering that the Palestinian people have endured. In March and again in June, the Security Council adopted resolutions in which it demands a ceasefire, yet it has failed to enforce them (see para. 20) This inaction on the part of the Council has endangered Palestinian lives, undermined peace efforts and jeopardized the two-State solution.
8. On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched a major attack from Gaza into southern Israel that claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and injured more than 5,400 other persons; 255 hostages were taken to Gaza.[1] In response, Israel, the occupying Power, launched extensive and indiscriminate aerial, land and maritime bombardments that have been described as the most devastating collective punishment of civilians in modern history, causing massive loss of human life and destruction.[2]
9. The Israeli military campaign has resulted in unprecedented Palestinian casualties. The majority of the victims have been children and women, and some families have been wiped out entirely. This military campaign triggered a humanitarian catastrophe that has been marked by the spread of starvation, famine and disease, the displacement of the entire population of Gaza and the dispossession of vital civilian infrastructure. That dispossession is evidenced by the widespread destruction of homes and other civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities, schools and businesses, stripping the community of its foundational support systems and services. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as at 21 August, the Israeli military campaign had resulted in more than 40,223 Palestinians being killed, of whom 12,927 were men, 10,627 children, 5,956 women and 2,770 elderly persons, and at least 92,981 others injured in Gaza,[3] with thousands presumed buried under the rubble. Concurrently, Israel took further illegal measures to deepen its occupation, including through continued construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, seizure of Palestinian land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians. (see paras. 12–14)
10. On 6 December, the Secretary-General made an unprecedented appeal by invoking Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations, urging the Security Council to “avert a humanitarian catastrophe” and calling for a full ceasefire in Gaza. Regrettably, that call had no tangible impact, leading the Secretary-General to decry the international community’s inaction to stop the carnage as a “moral stain on humanity”.[4]
11. The principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution and other rules of international humanitarian law have been severely breached in this conflict. Data in the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/78/842-S/2024/384) indicate that children have suffered the highest number of grave violations in the conflict, and that 625,000 deeply traumatized children have been compromised by their inability to attend school since October 2023.[5]
12. The ongoing Israeli attacks have destroyed more than 80 per cent of infrastructure, including hospitals and the water and sanitation and electricity networks, in the Gaza Strip. Israeli-imposed access restrictions, combined with ongoing military operations, further obstructed relief efforts. With half of the population of Gaza facing catastrophic food insecurity,[6] the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has warned of an imminent elevated risk of famine across Gaza if the conflict and access restrictions continued.[7]
13. As the Israeli military aggression continues, reports have emerged of the suffering of Palestinian civilians who have been injured, maimed, orphaned, detained and tortured, and struggling to cope with severe shortages of food, basic necessities and medical supplies, as well as the worrisome spread of communicable diseases, including poliovirus, the containment of which could require massive efforts.[8] Speaking on 2 July before the Security Council, the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, highlighted the increasing decline in aid entering and being distributed in Gaza; that decline was then further exacerbated by Israeli military operations in Rafah, Khan Younis and other areas where people had taken shelter.[9] The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the deliberate restrictions imposed by Israel on humanitarian aid to Gaza, and warned that the extent of those restrictions may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which constitutes a war crime.[10] On 27 June, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), highlighting the plight of women, noted that at least 557,000 women in Gaza, including pregnant women, faced severe food insecurity.[11]
14. Against this background, the Palestinian population in Gaza has also endured repeated displacement, forced to flee from one so-called safe zone to another pursuant to evacuation orders issued by Israel, only for these areas to become Israeli military targets. On 27 July, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Phillipe Lazzarini, in a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), said that 86 per cent of Gaza was under Israeli military evacuation orders.[12] In addition, insecurity grew for humanitarian personnel throughout Gaza. Casualties among humanitarian workers surged during the reporting period, with at least 289 personnel killed. Of that number, 211 were United Nation staff – 207 from UNRWA and the rest from the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Safety and Security.[13] Several humanitarian workers from Palestinian and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the World Central Kitchen, were also killed during the reporting period.
15. Violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem also surged, marked by intensified Israeli military and settler raids, as well as the expansion of illegal settlements and other related illegal measures. According to the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in the period from 7 October to 20 November alone, Israeli security forces conducted more than 1,000 raids in Palestinian cities, refugee camps and villages across the West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem.[14] Between 7 October 2023 and 19 August 2024, more than 600 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and approximately 1,270 attacks by Israeli settlers were recorded, resulting in around 120 Palestinian fatalities and injuries. As Palestinians faced eviction and dispossession, Israeli settlement expansion continued, with Israeli government ministers making open declarations about plans to build more settlements and transfer more Israeli settlers to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in grave breach of international law. As at 26 March, 4,780 new settlement units had been approved in Area C of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since 7 October, the number of Palestinians displaced in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, owing to demolitions and seizures of Palestinian land and structures, including donor-funded structures, had more than doubled compared to the preceding 10 months, increasing from 1,252 to 3,070.[15] Moreover, between 14 and 18 March, in the central and southern West Bank, settlers opened fire on Palestinians and their livestock, burned vehicles and crops, and established a new illegal settlement outpost in Lubban al-Gharbiyah.[16] The escalation of Israeli settler attacks and violence in the West Bank led several Member States, including Australia, Canada, France and the United States of America to impose sanctions on a few extremist Israeli settlers.
16. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities increased their provocations and challenges to the historic and legal status quo at the holy sites, and they pushed to increase the Jewish presence and influence, in particular in Silwan and Shaykh Jarrah. On 27 July, the Minister of National Security of Israel made his second visit to the Haram al-Sharif since 7 October, provocatively aiming to assert Israeli sovereignty over the site. Jordan, the site’s custodian, and other Member States condemned that provocation and recurrent violations of the status quo, warning of the dangers of rising tensions stoked by such illegal actions. On 7 August, in another incident of incitement, the Minister of Finance of Israel suggested that deliberately starving Palestinian civilians in Gaza could be “justified and moral”, drawing condemnation by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights[17] and several Member States.
17. In order to prevent catastrophic famine in the Gaza Strip, on 6 March, the Government of South Africa urgently requested the International Court of Justice to reinforce the provisional measures that the Court had indicated in its order of 26 January 2024.[18] Taking into account the planned assault by Israel on Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians were sheltering, the Court responded to the request of South Africa by ordering strengthened provisional measures on 24 May.[19] On 26 March, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 affirmed, in a report entitled “Anatomy of a genocide” (A/HRC/55/73), that the actions of Israel in Gaza constituted genocide. In another consequential judicial development, on 20 May, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, requested arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.[20] The request of the Prosecutor was consistent with the findings set out in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel of 27 May (A/HRC/56/26) and with the statement issued on 25 June by the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.[21]
18. OHCHR, in a report released on 31 July,[22] noted that, since October, Israel had placed thousands of Palestinians in arbitrary, prolonged and incommunicado detention. In addition, United Nations human rights experts reported widespread abuse, torture, sexual assault and rape of Palestinians, resulting in at least 53 deaths during the reporting period. They called for international intervention and an International Criminal Court investigation.[23] Since 7 October, a total of 9,500 Palestinians, including children and women, have been imprisoned. Of that number, one third have been held without charge or trial, and many have been arbitrarily abducted and detained.
19. Amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and increasing hardships for the population, UNRWA remained a vital lifeline for millions of Palestine refugees. Despite Israeli attempts to discredit, defund and dismantle the Agency, as well as significant funding gaps and restricted access to Gaza, UNRWA continued to deliver on its General Assembly mandate. Since October, UNRWA has delivered food to 1.9 million people, conducted 3.4 million medical consultations, including psychosocial support, produced 112,000 m³ of water daily, provided emergency shelters to thousands of displaced families and maintained humanitarian efforts across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.[24] The Secretary-General urged the international community to support the Agency after Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff of colluding in the attack of 7 October. Those allegations caused some donors to temporarily withhold funds at a time of immense humanitarian needs. In July, 123 Member States endorsed a statement of shared commitments on UNRWA, in which they reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Agency’s mandate and critical role in the region,[25] with many donors resuming funding.
20. Since 7 October, both the General Assembly and Security Council have been heavily engaged in addressing the crisis, albeit with limited success in establishing a ceasefire, protecting the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation and addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. On 27 October, the General Assembly, at its tenth emergency special session, adopted, with overwhelming support, resolution ES-10/21, in which it called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities”. The Security Council struggled to find consensus on the crisis owing to the exercise of veto power on several occasions, causing the General Assembly to reconvene its tenth emergency special session in October and December. In March, the Security Council adopted resolution 2728 (2024), in which it called for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan. However, it failed to enforce the resolution. In June, the Council adopted resolution 2735 (2024), in which it endorsed a ceasefire proposal and three-phase plan for Gaza. However, neither were implemented during the reporting period. Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States and aimed at halting the violence and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, continued throughout the reporting period. However, they have yet to produce tangible results. The conflict continues, while the death toll and misery of Palestinians increases.
21. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has threatened regional stability, prompting the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process to repeatedly urge restraint, including in a statement delivered before the Security Council on 25 June.[26] Efforts to broker a humanitarian ceasefire continued amid rising tensions in the Middle East, including in the aftermath of the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran on 31 July. In response to that incident, the Secretary-General called for urgent international action to avert further regional escalation and emphasized the need for all efforts to be focused on a Gaza ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and increased aid.[27]
22. On 19 July, in a landmark development, the International Court of Justice, responding to a request that the General Assembly made in its resolution 77/247, issued an advisory opinion in which the Court determined that the prolonged presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to be unlawful and that Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its presence as rapidly as possible.[28] In addition, the Court affirmed the obligation of Member States not to recognize or support the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and it called on the General Assembly and the Security Council to determine the modalities required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the Israeli occupation.[29] The advisory opinion reaffirmed the views of Member States, Palestinians, United Nation experts,[30] scholars and civil society, as well as the findings of the legal study that the Committee commissioned concerning the illegality of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory (A/78/378-S/2023/694).
23. On 18 April, the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution concerning the bid of the State of Palestine for full membership of the United Nations. In response, the General Assembly voted on 9 May to affirm the eligibility of the State of Palestine for membership of the United Nations and to grant it additional rights in the Assembly. To bolster these efforts, the Committee urged more countries to recognize the State of Palestine. As a result, during the reporting period, Armenia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and Trinidad and Tobago recognized the State of Palestine, bringing to 149 the number of countries that had recognized the State of Palestine as at 9 August.
24. On June 20, in the light of the ongoing Israeli assault and mounting death toll in Gaza, 32 United Nations human rights experts reiterated their demand to States and companies for an immediate halt to arms transfers to Israel. At least 11 Member States, including Bahrain, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, South Africa and Türkiye, have taken decisive actions in response to the deteriorating situation, such as recalling ambassadors to Israel and severing diplomatic relations, while others have given consideration to imposing economic, trade and travel restrictions. Global calls to stop arms transfers to and impose diplomatic and economic sanctions on Israel continued throughout the reporting period as Israel persisted with its aggression and occupation.
25. Israel also continued to withheld tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority and threatened to isolate Palestinian banks from the global financial system, further undermining the Palestinian Authority. On 23 July, in yet another attempt to achieve Palestinian reconciliation, 14 Palestinian factions signed a declaration in Beijing that was negotiated under the auspices of China to strengthen Palestinian national unity.

Chapter III – Mandate of the Committee

26. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from which they had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved over the years to include greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Additional information about the Committee is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.[31]
27. On 30 November 2022, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the Committee (resolution 77/22) and requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the resources necessary for its programme of work (resolution 77/23) and to continue to implement the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat (resolution 77/24). The mandates of the Committee, the Division and the Department will be reviewed only as necessary. The Committee’s report will continue to be produced annually. The Assembly also adopted resolution 77/25, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, in which it reaffirmed the long-standing international position regarding the components of a just, lasting and comprehensive solution, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
28. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice, as well as with the work of the Secretary-General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, with which it collaborates extensively.

Chapter IV – Organization of work

A. Membership and officers

29. The Committee is composed of 25 Member States that represent different regional groups and that support the international consensus for a two-State solution: Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Türkiye and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
30. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
31. The Bureau of the Committee is elected each year from among the permanent representatives of Committee members. At its 415th meeting, on 31 January, chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected, in his personal capacity, Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as Chair. At its 416th meeting, on 11 March, the Committee elected, in their personal capacity, Gerardo Peñalver Portal (Cuba), Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir (Indonesia), Ahmad Faisal Muhamad (Malaysia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia) and Jaime Hermida Castillo (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs for the year. The new Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, was elected as Vice-Chair on 26 June at the 417th meeting of the Committee.
32. Members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences organized by the Committee, including by chairing and moderating conference sessions, and on all delegation visits. On the margins of the conferences and during delegation visits, they held meetings with senior officials of the respective host countries. In accordance with established practice, the State of Palestine participates in the work of both the Committee and Bureau as an observer.
33. Committee members and observers have actively advocated for realization of the rights of the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, four Committee members, Ecuador, Guyana, Malta and Sierra Leone, and one observer, Algeria, serve in the Security Council as elected members.

B. Participation in the work of the Committee

34. As in previous years, all States Members of the United Nations and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee were welcome to do so. The Committee also regularly engages with civil society representatives, including from Israel, and invites them to attend its activities.

Chapter V – Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 77/22 and 77/23

A. Introduction

35. The Committee implemented its programme of work to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, bring about an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and support the achievement of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Its activities are aligned with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law; Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and Human Rights Council resolutions; the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice; the women and peace and security agenda; the programme of the United Nations country team; and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee has continuously adjusted its programme of work in line with developments on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and geopolitical developments relating to the question of Palestine.
36. The Committee supports the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the right to self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter and other instruments of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. Since the 7 October attacks and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, the Committee further engaged the diplomatic community through formal and informal intergovernmental processes to promote recognition of the State of Palestine, including through Bureau delegation visits and outreach meetings, and it raised public awareness on various aspects of the conflict, including its impact on women and children, through conferences, in-person, hybrid and virtual events, and the media, including social media. In addition, the Committee promoted partnerships with governments, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including UNRWA, intergovernmental organizations, regional bodies and civil society organizations. It also implemented capacity-building projects for the State of Palestine and convened a commemoration of the Nakbah in May.

B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community

37. The Bureau closely monitored the rapidly evolving situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and held nine meetings in response. Following the events of 7 October, the Bureau postponed delegation visits that had been planned to start in November.
38. On 27 October, the Bureau met with the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel established by the Human Rights Council, Navanethem Pillay, and Commission member Christopher Sidoti, as well as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, to discuss the latest developments, their respective reports to the General Assembly and ways to increase cooperation with the Committee.
39. On 10 November, the Bureau held its annual retreat in New York to reflect on the implementation of its 2023 programme of work and discuss 2024 activities, with heightened focus on advocacy needs concerning the conflict in Gaza.
40. The Bureau met on 10 January with the Permanent Representative of South Africa, who provided a briefing on the proceedings that her country had instituted at the International Court of Justice concerning violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip. On 6 February, the Bureau met with the President of the U.S./Middle East Project, Daniel Levy.
41. On 31 January, in a meeting chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected the Permanent Representative of Senegal, Cheikh Niang, as Chair of the Committee. In addition, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 2024, heard a briefing by the Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its impact on the Agency’s ability to deliver essential support to the population and heard a briefing by South Africa on the proceedings that it had instituted at the International Court of Justice.
42. On 27 February, the Division for Palestinian Rights and the Department of Global Communications, on behalf of the Committee, held the annual briefing session for 25 new delegates of Member States.
43. On 11 March and 26 June, the Committee conducted elections to fill the remaining vacancies in the Bureau (see para. 31). In March, South Africa provided an update on the proceedings that it had instituted at the International Court of Justice. At the Committee meeting of 26 June, a legal counsel for the State of Palestine, Paul Reichler, delivered a briefing on proceeding related to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
44. The Chair led Bureau delegations on visits to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana from 22 to 26 April. Those visits were instrumental in encouraging Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas to recognize the State of Palestine. The Chair participated in the fifteenth summit of the Heads of State and Government of OIC, which was held in Banjul on 4 and 5 May. On 1 July, a Bureau delegation participated in a joint seminar with OIC in Jeddah, and it visited Riyadh on 2 July to hold meetings with the Government of Saudi Arabia. The Bureau delegation continued onto Indonesia, where it held meetings on 4 and 5 July with government and civil society representatives to harness support for the Palestinian people and to mobilize collective efforts for accountability and a just solution. During the visit to Indonesia, the Bureau held its first meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mobilize regional support for Palestinian rights.
45. The Bureau harnessed traditional and social media for global outreach and advocacy. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, it has issued several press statements. On 17 October, the Bureau condemned the mass killing and wounding by Israel of civilians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire. On 14 February, the Bureau warned of a possible Israeli invasion of Rafah. On 28 February, it called for solidarity and support to sustain UNRWA in the face of a smear campaign by Israel, suspensions of funding for the Agency and the humanitarian suffering of Palestine refugees in Gaza (see para. 19). On 23 July, the Bureau welcomed the landmark advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and called for rapid action by the international community to uphold its obligations to bring an end to the Israeli occupation and ensure the realization of self-determination by the Palestinian people.
46. The Committee delivered statements at quarterly debates of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on 24 October, 23 January, 18 April and 19 July, highlighting the catastrophic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and called for collective action to end the Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, achieve the two-State solution and realize the rights of the Palestinian people, including the rights to self-determination and independence.

C. Raising awareness on the question of Palestine

47. The Committee continued to raise awareness about the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with a focus on the conflict in Gaza, including the situation of Palestinian women, children and young persons. It organized up-to-date briefings by experts and exchange of ideas on specific issues during virtual and in-person Committee meetings, side events and conferences, and it continued to disseminate publications and information through social media platforms. Details regarding each activity can be found on the Committee’s website.
48. On 12 December, the Committee convened a panel discussion on the theme “2023 conflict in Gaza: the responsibility to prevent genocide”. Renowned legal scholars, including from Israel, and civil society representatives discussed the real possibility that Israel may be committing the crime of genocide, as defined in article II of the Genocide Convention, against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
49. On 13 March, the Committee organized a virtual event on the theme “Conflict in Gaza: impact on Palestinian women and children” on the margins of the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. An all-female panel composed of representatives from UNRWA, the United Nations Population Fund and Save the Children International, as well as a Palestinian physician from Gaza, discussed the impact that the conflict has had on the lives of thousands of Palestinians families. The participants noted that 70 per cent of the casualties in Palestinian families were women and children, and that women bore a heavy burden as primary caregivers.
50. On 3 and 4 April, at the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Committee convened a conference of civil society organizations working on the question of Palestine, under the theme “Building bridges with international civil society to address the ongoing Nakbah”. The participants focused on the role of civil society worldwide in advocating for a durable and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and in achieving accountability for war crimes committed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
51. On 17 May, the Committee held a commemorative panel discussion on the theme “1948–2024: the ongoing Palestinian Nakbah” at United Nations Headquarters in New York. In all, 53 Member States and Observers and approximately 60 representatives of civil society, as well as members of the public, attended the event. The panellists discussed, inter alia, the origins of the question of Palestine in the United Nations, following the adoption by the General Assembly of the partition plan in 1947, the Organization’s continuing responsibilities until a just solution is found, the catastrophic humanitarian situation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the obligations of all States under international law vis-à-vis the grave injustice that has been inflicted on the Palestinian people, including the duty to prevent genocide pursuant to the order issued by the International Court of Justice on 26 January.
52. On 1 July, the Committee and OIC jointly held a symposium on the theme “Jerusalem and the Gaza conflict: Palestinian identity and existence under threat of erasure” at OIC headquarters in Jeddah. The event was attended by representatives of the majority of OIC member States and other diplomatic figures. Panellists and participants discussed the plight of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, “colonial” Israeli urban planning and the intensification of the Israeli settler project in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – all of which were occurring in the shadow of the Gaza conflict. They urged States to recognize the State of Palestine and hold Israel accountable for its grave violations of international law and human rights law.
53. As mandated by the General Assembly, the Committee commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event featured statements by the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council and the Deputy-Secretary-General in which they reaffirmed Palestinian rights and need for a just and lasting solution. The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine read a message from the President of the State of Palestine. The representatives of the African Union, LAS, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and OIC delivered statements. The Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories and the Reverend Peter Makari, speaking on behalf of civil society organizations, also delivered statements. The commemoration was attended by 105 Member States and 5 NGOs, and messages of solidarity were received from 47 States.[32] The speakers underscored the long-standing position of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine and called on Israel to comply forthwith with international law and cease its violations and oppression of the Palestinian people. Similar commemorations were held at the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna.
54. A photo exhibit entitled “Palestine: a land with a people” was unveiled at United Nations Headquarters in New York as part of the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The exhibit, which was displayed from 29 November to 6 January, depicted the Palestinian people’s journey before, during and after the Nakbah, highlighting both their suffering and resilience.
55. Through strategic use of digital resources, the Committee continued to inform and engage a growing international audience, enhancing global understanding of the question of Palestine and combating misinformation and disinformation, in particular after the events of 7 October. The graph below illustrates the growth trends of the digital tools that the Committee uses to support its advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. The Committee’s website had 5.6 million pageviews during the reporting period, becoming a key information source. Since January 2020, there has been a steady growth in web page visits, followers on social media channels and mailing list subscribers, with the mailing list alone now having 16,564 subscribers. The mailing list and website were crucial for distributing the Committee’s multilingual publications and statements (see para. 58), while the Committee’s digital platforms, including its account on X (formerly known as Twitter), which has more than 25,000 followers, and its YouTube channel, which has more than 11,800 subscribers and has received 1.5 million views, have become key sources of information about and updates on the Committee’s activities.

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, digital and social media platform trends, 2020–2024

Source: United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine and Division for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (July 2024). Abbreviation: UNISPAL, United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine.

56. The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, now in its thirtieth year of operation, remains an indispensable resource for diplomats, researchers and the public, averaging 500,000 page views per month. It holds a growing catalogue of more than 44,000 documents and is the largest, most comprehensive online repository on the subject. The collection ranges from the latest United Nations documents to rare records dating back decades. Moreover, documents are increasingly being disseminated in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, in addition to English.
57. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in collaboration with the Office of Information and Communications Technology, continued to improve the accessibility of UNPal, an artificial-intelligence-based chatbot for the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website. Other enhancements to the website are aimed at making it more accessible to everyone, including speakers of all the official languages and persons with disabilities.
58. As part of its monitoring mandate, the Committee continued to produce publications for dissemination by the Division for Palestinian Rights. They include a weekly publication on NGO action on the question of Palestine, monthly bulletins compiling all official documents of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine, quarterly newsletters on the activities of the Committee, an annual compilation of United Nations reports on the question of Palestine and an annual compilation of all resolutions issued by United Nations bodies on the question of Palestine.
59. On 1 September 2023, the Committee launched the groundbreaking study entitled “The legality of the Israeli occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”, which was produced by the Irish Centre for Human Rights of the University of Galway, Ireland. This legal analysis, which the Committee commissioned after it had convened successive legal seminars on the subject, has provided advocates with the knowledge and international legal tools needed to pursue justice and accountability and to realize the rights of the Palestinian people. The study, which was translated into Arabic, French and Spanish, has been accessed more 53,609 times on the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website. In addition, it was circulated as a document of the General Assembly and of the Security Council (A/78/378-S/2023/694) and was submitted to the International Court of Justice. The study served as a partial basis for the landmark advisory opinion that the Court issued on 19 July (see para. 22).
60. The Committee’s publications were disseminated to a growing mailing list of subscribers, including research libraries, universities, political figures, members of the diplomatic community, students, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and journalists. All the publications of the Committee are posted on its website.
61. The Committee, with support from OIC, distributed 2,724 United Nations exhibit booklets worldwide, including to Member States and United Nation offices, and began the process of translating them into French and Spanish, with a view to broadening outreach. The electronic versions of the booklets registered 9,362 views.

D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non‑governmental organizations and United Nations system entities

62. The Committee continued to cooperate with intergovernmental organizations. It jointly organized with OIC the annual International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem. The African Union, LAS and OIC regularly attended Committee meetings as observers and participated in its work. The Chair participated in key OIC events and the Bureau held consultations with ASEAN (see para. 44).
63. In the course of its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights, continued its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations system, including UNDP, United Nations country teams, UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the Department of Global Communications (including the United Nations information centres), the Human Rights Council, OHCHR, UN-Women, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations System Staff College.
64. The Committee continued to collaborate with NGOs in promoting Palestinian rights. Representative of civil society organizations, including from the State of Palestine and Israel, were invited to all public events (see paras. 48–53). As customary, a civil society representative was also invited to speak at the Committee’s commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see para. 53).

E. Capacity-development

65. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 77/23, the Committee continued to offer training, both in-person and online, aimed at enhancing the capacity of officials of the State of Palestine.
66. In collaboration with UNITAR, the Committee supported the participation of six officials (four female and two male) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency in a training course entitled “The art of speechwriting” from 16 October to 5 November. The course strengthened the individual capacity of diplomats working in roles requiring refined skills in speechwriting and public speaking.
67. From 30 October to 8 December, the Committee conducted its annual six-week capacity-building programme for two Palestinian career diplomats (one male and one female), with an emphasis on multilateral diplomacy, peace, security and global developments shaping the agenda of the United Nations. The programme offered insights into the Organization’s formal and informal processes, including the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly.

Chapter VI – Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General Assembly resolution 77/24

68. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 77/24 of 30 November 2022, the Department of Global Communications continued to implement its special information programme on the question of Palestine.
69. From 30 October to 1 December, the Department held its annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists in New York and Washington, D.C. The programme was renamed the Shireen Abu Akleh Training Programme for Palestinian Broadcasters and Journalists in honour of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed on 11 May 2022. The four Palestinian journalists who participated in the programme attended briefings with United Nations officials and met with representatives of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Al Jazeera, the Washington, D.C., International Film Festival and the Middle East Institute.
70. The Department continued to update the web page on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the six official languages, and it provided technical support for the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website.
71. The social media accounts of the United Nations, with more 71 million followers in all six official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese, continued to promote the Committee’s events, including on a dedicated Trello board. The Department issued 256 press releases, in English and French, on the question of Palestine, including statements and messages by the Secretary-General, and provided live or on-demand coverage of General Assembly, Security Council and Committee meetings (see chapter V).
72. UN News published over 5,500 stories and audio pieces in the six official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Urdu, generating 6.7 million pageviews from 4.2 million users. In addition, the Department provided on-the-ground insights into the tragic situation in Gaza and developments in the West Bank through interviews and features, including an Arabic-language profile of a Palestinian businesswoman who has dedicated her life to helping her community in Gaza.[33]
73. UN Photo and the United Nations Photo Library captured and processed more than 1,400 relevant images, and more than 800 images were posted on the UN Photo website. In addition, UN Video created over 110 video packages, which were distributed through various United Nations platforms. UNifeed produced some 500 news video packages that were aired in 110 countries by various media outlets, including Al Jazeera, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Cable News Network and i24 News. Those packages covered such things as humanitarian updates from United Nations agencies in the field and the Secretary-General’s annual trip to Egypt and Jordan.
74. The permanent exhibit “The United Nations and the Question of Palestine”, which is part of the United Nations guided tour route, continued to raise awareness among visitors. Over 180,000 visitors saw the exhibit during the reporting period, and 123 students were educated about the question of Palestine in five briefings.
75. In connection with the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see para. 53), the Department facilitated the launch, at United Nations Headquarters, of a photo exhibit entitled “Palestine: a land with a people”. In addition, United Nations information centres around the world, including in Canberra, Manama, Mexico City, Moscow, Pretoria, Nairobi and Sana’a, Yemen, commemorated the occasion by organizing events and disseminating the Secretary-General’s message, including in local languages. On 30 November, the United Nations information centre in Nairobi, in collaboration with the Embassy of the State of Palestine to Kenya, as well as the United Nations Office at Nairobi, marked the occasion at the United Nations complex in Nairobi. More than 500 participants attended the screening of a documentary and an exhibition on Palestine culture. The Nairobi information centre supported the event by inviting the media and providing moderation, photography and social media services.
76. On 17 May, the Department held a “meet the author” event with Ardi Imseis, professor of international law and author of a book entitled The United Nations and the Question of Palestine: Rule by Law and the Structure of International Legal Subalternity.
77. Following the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, United Nations information centres have been providing daily media monitoring for the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General and have supported the United Nations Communications Group crisis cell on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory established by the Department of Global Communications. In addition, the information centres translated and disseminated press releases and messages of the Secretary-General and the Committee. The Italy desk of the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe published more than 100 articles in Italian on the crisis, arranged interviews and translated op-ed articles. The information centres also supported visits by high-level United Nations officials, such as the visits conducted by the Secretary-General and several other high-level United Nations officials to the region, including to Rafah. Media briefings were arranged, attracting significant international and national media coverage.

Chapter VII – Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee

78. In developing its recommendations set out below, the Committee has taken into account the deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings received, outreach, international conferences and events involving Member States, civil society organizations and regional organizations, as well as recent United Nations resolutions.

A. Action by the Committee in response to the conflict and humanitarian crisis

79. The Committee strongly condemns the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. As at August 2024, more than 40,000 Palestinian had been killed and more than 92,000 men, women, children and elderly persons had been injured as a result of that campaign. It condemns the 7 October 2023 attack by armed Palestinian groups that resulted in the death of 1,200 Israelis and the injury of about 5,400 others; 255 others were abducted and taken as hostages into Gaza.
80. The Committee strongly condemns the disproportionate and indiscriminate military campaign that Israel is waging without regard for human life. This campaign has led to an ever-mounting death toll among Palestinians and caused them severe suffering, including mass displacement, starvation and spread of disease. It has also caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and extensive trauma among the population. The Committee calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, strict adherence to international humanitarian law to protect civilians, the release of hostages and prisoners, and an independent investigation into all human rights violations and war crimes perpetrated.
81. The Committee stresses that Israel, in its aggression against Gaza, has consistently failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants, as well as civilian and military objects, and breached its obligations as an occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Committee also stresses that the indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centres by Palestinian armed groups is prohibited by international humanitarian law. The Committee reminds all parties that attacks on densely populated areas, hospitals, places of worship, schools and United Nations premises constitute war crimes and must cease forthwith, and that there must be accountability for all such grave breaches of international humanitarian law. The Committee urges all parties to comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law, as well as General Assembly resolutions ES-10/21 and ES-10/22, Security Council resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023), 2728 (2024) and 2735 (2024), and Human Rights Council resolutions 55/28, 55/30, 55/31 and 55/32.
82. The Committee is alarmed by the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Israeli military campaign, as a result of which the entire population of Gaza has been displaced multiple times and more than half a million Palestinians are facing famine. It calls for international solidarity and support for immediate humanitarian efforts in Gaza and urges Member States to pressure the Israeli authorities to allow safe unimpeded access for aid organizations bringing food, water, medicine, fuel and other essential supplies to Palestinians, and to prevent any actions aimed at obstructing the delivery of aid to the Palestinian people.
83. The Committee urges the international community to protect the Palestinian civilian population, including by establishing safe humanitarian zones, providing adequate shelter for displaced populations and meeting essential humanitarian and hygiene needs. The Committee strongly condemns the raids and attacks carried out by Israel against the last remaining places of refuge for displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including the repeated attacks against UNRWA facilities sheltering the displaced and refugee camps across Gaza. It deplores the evacuation orders issued by Israel, because they continue to cause the displacement of and inflict suffering on Palestinians and spawn fear and trauma among a population that is being repeatedly forced to flee and seek safety in a place where nowhere is safe. The Committee notes that refugee centres are crucial sources of humanitarian aid, providing essential food, medical care and shelter, and must be treated as safe zones and respected in accordance with international law.
84. The Committee demands action to address war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, including by investigating the weaponization of starvation as a method of warfare and other war crimes prohibited under international law. The Committee also denounces Israeli military offensives aimed at obstructing humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, who, after enduring months of bombings, disease and hunger, continue to endure collective punishment potentially involving acts of genocide.
85. The Committee demands that measures be taken to enhance safety for aid workers, including by requiring Israel to establish and respect safe corridors and ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel, including UNRWA staff, and the continuous delivery of aid.
86. The Committee expresses its deep concern about escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The increase in settler violence could further destabilize the area. In addition, the Committee calls for an immediate end to the use of lethal force by Israeli forces and armed settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children. The use of lethal force by Israeli forces and armed settlers has made 2024 the deadliest year on record for children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
87. The Committee condemns the expansion of illegal settlements and outposts and the continued suffering and dispossession of Palestinian communities, which are facing an ongoing Nakbah driven by Israeli State policy and acts of terror by extremists. The Committee calls on Israeli government officials to halt their provocations, rhetoric and incitement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

B. Action by the Committee in response to human rights violations

88. The Committee condemns the recurring human rights violations committed by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as amply documented by international organizations, including the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms, as well as human rights organizations, including organizations from Israel.
89. The Committee condemns the punitive measures imposed by the Government of Israel to perpetuate the occupation, weaken the Palestinian Authority and repress the Palestinian people. The Committee calls on Israel to immediately reverse its punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority, disarm Israeli settlers and immediately stop settler violence and all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and provide protection to Palestinian civilians, as called for in Security Council resolution 904 (1994) and General Assembly resolution ES-10/20 and in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law.
90. The Committee demands that the United Nations and the international community take additional measures to ensure accountability in response to the failure of Israel to fulfil its responsibility to investigate and prosecute acts committed by its agents or third parties that involve grave breaches of international humanitarian law and gross violations of the human rights of Palestinians. The Committee commends the Member States that have imposed sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians, and urges other Member States to act accordingly to ensure accountability.
91. The Committee urges Israel to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and to fully respect the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Aqsa Mosque compound, and to recognize the special role of Jordan as custodian of the compound. It condemns the attempts of Israel to change the historic and legal status of the holy sites and East Jerusalem, as well as to alter the demographic composition and character of East Jerusalem, in violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
92. The Committee commends the Secretary-General and the relevant humanitarian mechanisms for their response to continued and escalating aggression and violence by Israel, including the disproportionate use of military force in densely populated civilian areas in Gaza and the West Bank. The Committee underscores the seriousness of the findings in the most recent report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/78/842-S/204/384) with regard to grave violations against Palestinian children, and notes that Israeli security forces and armed Palestinian groups are among those responsible for these violations.
93. The Committee is deeply worried that OHCHR, in its report of 31 July (see para. 18), indicated that thousands of Palestinians have been detained in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, including since October 2023, in violation of international human rights and international humanitarian law. The Committee strongly condemns the sexual violence committed against and the deaths, disappearances, torture and inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including men, women and children. It also denounces the actions of Israeli extremists who call for the right to rape Palestinian prisoners.
94. The Committee deplores the killing and silencing by Israeli forces of Palestinian journalists and media professionals in Gaza and the West Bank, who are central to exposing the atrocities, violations and acts of genocide being perpetrated in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
95. The Committee welcomes the order issued by the International Court of Justice in response to the proceedings instituted by South Africa. In that order, the Court indicates that Israel must “take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II” of the Genocide Convention. The Committee also highlights the extreme vulnerability of civilians in Gaza owing to repeated Israeli military assaults, and demands that Israel ensure that its forces do not commit further genocidal acts.
96. The Committee welcomes measure taken by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court aimed at holding Israeli leaders and the leaders of Palestinian armed group accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity as a result of their actions in the Gaza conflict. It calls on the International Criminal Court to act on the Prosecutor’s request.

C. Action by the Committee in response to annexation and settlement activities

97. The Committee welcomes the landmark advisory opinion that the International Court of Justice issued on 19 July and calls on the General Assembly and Security Council to urgently implement it, including through the adoption of the modalities required to bring an end the unlawful Israeli occupation and a halt to all new settlement activities, to evacuate existing settlers, to make reparations for damages in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to support the realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable right to self-determination. The Assembly, supported by the Council, should formulate a road map for ending the unlawful occupation. Such a road map should specify the obligations of all States, in accordance with the advisory opinion, and include clear benchmarks, and its implementation should be monitored. The Committee supports the call for all Member States to uphold international law and reject the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to refrain from actions that assist or sustain that unlawful presence.
98. The Committee reiterates that the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal. It calls on the Israeli authorities to cease all actions aimed at changing the demographic composition, status and character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to abide scrupulously by its international legal obligations. Such illegal colonization measures violate the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and undermine the prospect of achieving a two-State solution by systematically eroding a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital, in accordance with international law and the pertinent United Nations resolutions, including, inter alia, Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 77/26, as well as the Madrid terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.
99. The Committee is gravely concerned at the stated objective of the Government of Israel to dramatically increase the number of settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the Government openly referring to the occupied territory as the “land of Israel”, contrary to international law, countless United Nations resolutions and the international consensus on the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders. The Committee supports the demands made by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council for the cessation of all such illegal activities, including expropriation of and encroachment on Palestinian land and demolition of Palestinian homes and properties.
100. The Committee urges the Government of Israel to refrain from seizing Palestinian land, stop conducting demolitions, including of donor-funded structures, and end all forced evictions and forcible displacement of Palestinians.
101. The Committee concurs with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel that discrimination against Palestinians and the ongoing occupation and associated abuses, such as unlawful killings, forced displacement and denial of rights, resemble apartheid and are primary causes of the conflict. The Committee calls for urgent action to safeguard Palestinian human rights and condemns political attacks on the Special Rapporteurs and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which undermine their efforts to document abuses, advocate for Palestinian rights and promote accountability.

D. Action with the Secretary-General, the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court

102. The Committee concurs with the stance of the Secretary-General on the question of Palestine, which is based on international law and numerous United Nations resolutions, and it urges him to continue leveraging his good offices to pursue a just resolution to the question of Palestine. It calls on the international community to fulfil its political, legal, humanitarian and moral obligations in responding to the dangerous crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory that led the Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 of the Charter.
103. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure the speedy implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace affirmed in relevant United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly resolution 77/25. Doing so includes ensuring that Member States and intergovernmental organizations take tangible measures to implement their obligations under those resolutions, in particular distinguishing between Israel and the territories that have remained under its occupation since 1967. In addition, Member States must refrain from aiding, assisting or recognizing the unlawful presence of Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as reaffirmed most recently in the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July.
104. The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit his reports to the Security Council on the implementation of resolutions 2334 (2016), 2728 (2024) and 2735 (2024) in written format and, pursuant to the applicable paragraphs of those resolutions, to include references to the implementation of the provision by Member States. Pursuant to those resolutions, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation of relevant Council resolutions, including the use of sanctions on States and private entities violating Council resolutions.
105. The Committee calls on the Security Council to demand the immediate implementation of resolution 2735 (2024), in which a three-phase ceasefire deal is outlined, and to also demand an immediate halt to Israeli military actions. The Committee also calls on the Security Council to act urgently to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which has been delayed for too long. The Committee expresses concern over the failure of the Security Council to halt atrocities in Gaza, such as the killing of non‑combatants, including men, women, children, young persons and elderly people, and strongly condemns the silence that normalizes these acts. It acknowledges the efforts of States, including Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to broker a ceasefire and the release of hostages and urges the continuation of those efforts until the suffering in Gaza has been brought to end.
106. The Committee urges further efforts to implement the mandate of the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, as set out in Security Council resolution 2720 (2023), with the objective of expediting the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza, and calls for Member States to support the Coordinator’s efforts.
107. The Committee notes that any initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza and ending the prolonged occupation in order to achieve a just solution to the question of Palestine must, first and foremost, take into account the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, engage the Palestinian leadership and be based on the two-State solution, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
108. The Committee commends the ongoing efforts of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in upholding international law and humanitarian principles in matters related to the question of Palestine and that are crucial for ensuring accountability, justice and the protection of Palestinian rights.

E. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and civil society

109. The Committee calls upon regional organizations, in particular LAS, the European Union, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and OIC, to take a politically active role in stopping the annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, by Israel and to take tangible measures, including with regard to accountability, in order to bring an end to the occupation and achieve a just solution to the question of Palestine. The Committee notes that any comprehensive resolution to the question of Palestine will require a regional approach, such as the approach set out in the Arab Peace Initiative.
110. The Committee fully supports the ongoing efforts by Member States, as well as the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, to promote calm and a just and lasting resolution to the question of Palestine. The Committee commends the recent efforts of Algeria, China and Egypt to promote Palestinian unity, as it recognizes that Palestinian unity is essential to ending the conflict and advancing the resolution of the question of Palestine.
111. The Committee recognizes the crucial role of global civil society in advocating for Palestinian rights and an end to the immense suffering in Gaza, and in urging Member States to heed the demands of the public and take decisive action in line with their international legal obligations. The Committee condemns the threats that have been made against civil society organizations and NGOs delivering aid in Gaza. It calls on Israel to reverse policies that restrict access for civil society organizations and hamper their vital work, and to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers.

F. Action by Member States and regional organizations

112. The Committee calls on Member States and regional organizations to act, collectively and individually, in line with international law to pressure Israel, the occupying Power, to fulfil its responsibilities to safeguard Palestinian civilians under international law, stop the assault on Gaza and the violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and end its unlawful occupation as rapidly as possible.
113. The Committee considers unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of embassies to Jerusalem as being invalid, because those actions violate Security Council resolutions 476 (1980), 478 (1980) and 2334 (2016). It commends those States that have reversed such recognition and, in that connection, recalls the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July.
114. The Committee welcomes General Assembly resolution ES-10/23, in which the Assembly reaffirms the right of Palestinians to self-determination and an independent State, and it urges the Security Council to recommend the admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations, in line with the broad international consensus in that regard. The Committee also welcomes the recent decisions of several States to recognize the State of Palestine and urges those States that have yet to do so to take decisive action now, in keeping with the duty to uphold the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
115. The Committee encourages OHCHR to continue updating the database of business enterprises engaged in certain activities in relation to illegal Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and stresses the importance of the database for accountability measures.
116. The Committee reaffirms its strong support for UNRWA and the Agency’s indispensable role in providing services to millions of Palestine refugees, many of whom are now sheltering in its facilities in Gaza. The Committee urges continued political support for the Agency’s mandate, which was established by the General Assembly, and urges donors to increase funding for UNRWA. In that connection, the Committee emphasizes the Secretary-General’s recognition of the Agency’s critical role and highlights the need to hold accountable those responsible for the deaths of United Nations staff. The Committee demands that Israel reverse its classification of UNRWA as a terrorist organization and stop its campaign to delegitimize UNRWA, as that undermines the Agency’s crucial humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
117. The Committee calls on Member States to support the fiscal stability of the Palestinian Authority and strengthen Palestinian institutions, in order to improve economic and social conditions in the State of Palestine, especially in view of the suffering and deprivation that the actions of Israel have caused.
118. Recognizing the vital role of legislative bodies in garnering support for the peaceful resolution of the question of Palestine, the Committee calls for parliamentary diplomacy to help bring an end to the Gaza conflict and the Israeli occupation and find a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.

G. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities

119. The Committee requests the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs to continue providing secretariat support across all aspects of its General Assembly mandate, and to facilitate synergy, collaboration and cooperation with United Nations entities working on the question of Palestine. The Committee expresses it appreciation to the Division for supporting and adapting the Committee’s communications and outreach tools, including its multilingual website, its social media accounts and audiovisual content pertaining to its activities, with a view to promoting the Committee’s advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in the dynamic context of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
120. The Committee encourages enhanced collaboration with the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications, with a view to ensuring broader outreach. In addition, it encourages the Department to reinstitute its dedicated web portal on the Israel-Gaza crisis.
121. The Committee also welcomes the ongoing efforts to improve the targeted capacity-building projects for Palestinian officials and to promote inclusivity, gender balance and South-South cooperation.

          [1] United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported impact snapshot, Gaza Strip, 21 August 2024.

          [2] United Nations, “Civilians in Gaza must not be collectively punished for atrocities committed by Hamas, speakers tell Security Council, urging ceasefire”, press release, 30 October 2023.

          [3] United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported impact snapshot, Gaza Strip, 21 August 2024.

          [4] United Nations, “Humanitarian situation in Gaza ‘a moral stain on us all’, Secretary-General tells Security Council, stressing international law must be respected by all”, press release, 17 July 2024.

          [5] UNRWA update on traumatized Palestinian children.

          [6] World Food Programme, “Hunger in Gaza: famine findings a ‘dark mark’ on the world, says WFP Palestine country director”, 18 March 2024.

          [7] Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, “Famine Review Committee: Gaza Strip, March 2024, conclusions and recommendations”, 18 March 2024.

          [8] United Nations, statement of the Secretary-General on polio in Gaza, 16 August 2024.

          [9] See S/PV.9678.

         [10] OHCHR, “Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the risk of famine in Gaza”, press release, 19 March 2024.

         [11] UN-Women, “At least 557,000 women in Gaza are facing severe food insecurity”, press release, 27 June 2024.

         [12] Available at https://x.com/UNLazzarini/status/1817615379985740139.

         [13] UNRWA, “Remarks by UNRWA Chief of Staff, Mr. Ben Majekodunmi, at the World Humanitarian Day 2024 UN commemoration”, press release, 19 August 2024.

         [14] OHCHR, “Flash Report: The human rights situation in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, 7 October–20 November 2023”, 27 December 2023.

         [15] United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Humanitarian Situation Update #201 | West Bank”, 7 August 2024.

         [16] UNRWA, “UNRWA situation report # 92 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem”, 19 March 2024.

         [17] United Nations, “UN rights chief condemns Israeli minister for justifying war crime starvation of civilians in Gaza – OHCHR”, press release, 9 August 2024.

         [18] Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Order of 26 January 2024, I.C.J. Reports 2024.

         [19] Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Order of 24 May 2024, I.C.J. Reports 2024.

         [20] International Criminal Court, “Statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC: Applications for arrest warrants in the situation in the State of Palestine”, press release, 20 May 2024.

         [21] OHCHR, “UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories concludes field mission”, press release, 25 June 2024.

         [22] OHCHR, “Thematic report: Detention in the context of the escalation of hostilities in Gaza (October 2023–June 2024)”, 31 July 2024.

         [23] OHCHR, “Experts hail ICJ declaration on illegality of Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as ‘historic’ for Palestinians and international law”, press release, 30 July 2024.

         [24] UNRWA, “Situation report #127 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem”, 9 August 2024.

         [25] United Nations, “Statement of shared commitments on UNRWA”, press release, 12 July 2024.

         [26] See S/PV.9667.

         [27] United Nations, “Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the Situation in the Middle East”, press release, 31 July 2024.

         [28] Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2024.

         [29] Ibid.

         [30] OHCHR, “Experts hail ICJ declaration on illegality of Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as ‘historic’ for Palestinians and international law”, press release, 30 July 2024.

         [31] www.un.org/unispal.

         [32] Available at www.un.org/unispal/2023-international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people/.

         [33] United Nations, UN News, “An unconquerable determination amidst the devastation of war: Tahani Abu Daqqah is a Palestinian businesswoman who dedicates her life to helping her community in Gaza”, 29 May 2024. Available in Arabic at news.un.org/ar/story/2024/05/1131301.