Action by UN System and Intergovernmental Organizations Relevant to the Question of Palestine (December 2024 Monthly Bulletin)

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The Bulletin can be found in the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) at https://www.un.org/unispal/data-collection/monthly-bulletin/

Disclaimer: The texts cited in this Monthly Bulletin have been reproduced in their original form. The Division for Palestinian Rights is consequently not responsible for the views, positions or discrepancies contained in these texts.

December 2024

Volume XLVII, Bulletin No. XII

UNRWA Chief highlights the critical role of Agency supporting Palestine refugees amidst humanitarian crises
UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies during Cairo humanitarian conference urge international support for humanitarian relief to Gaza and defend UNRWA
General Assembly adopts two resolutions to advance two-State solution, sets terms for international conference, requests annual Nakba commemoration
UN General Assembly adopts resolutions on Palestine refugees and settlements
UNICEF warns Gaza has become a graveyard for children and families
Secretary-General alerts the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council regarding threat to UNRWA’s operations posed by Knesset laws
General Assembly adopts resolution on assistance to the Palestinian People
General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session adopts two resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting UNRWA
Civilians in Gaza are paying the price of the continuing exchange of fire between the parties – UNSCO
Conflict in Gaza devastated children, with over 14,500 reportedly killed, UNICEF warns after attack on Nuseirat camp
General Assembly adopts resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination
Israel must stop the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank – OHCHR emphasises
General Assembly adopts resolution on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources
Secretary-General reports on implementation of GA resolution 10/24 on ICJ Advisory opinion on illegality of Israeli occupation
General Assembly requests an ICJ Advisory Opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the UN, other international organizations and third states
UN Palestinian Rights Committee’s Bureau welcomes historic resolution requesting an ICJ Advisory Opinion, rejects actions that obstruct aid
Israel’s assault on the foundations of international law governing protection of civilians must have consequences: UN human rights experts
Pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals raises grave concerns – OHCHR report

I. UNRWA Chief highlights the critical role of Agency supporting Palestine refugees amidst humanitarian crises

On 1 December, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini made the following remarks during the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People while accepting an award from the League of Arab States (LAS) for honouring UNRWA’s services to Palestine Refugees.

/…

As we mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, it is a great honour to accept this award in recognition of UNRWA’s services to Palestine Refugees.

This award belongs to my remarkable colleagues, especially those doing lifesaving work amid a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza; escalating violence in the occupied West Bank; and an uneasy truce in Lebanon. They have paid a heavy price for their commitment to serving Palestine Refugees.

In Gaza, 249 UNRWA personnel have been killed. Those who have survived the sieges and bombardments of the last 14 months are struggling to cope with their own displacement and the lack of any safety. They are grieving countless losses – of loved ones, of homes, and of hope. Many have worked for more than a year without pause, in appalling and often inhumane conditions.

In the occupied Palestinian territory, the clock is ticking towards the implementation of the Israeli Knesset legislation to end UNRWA’s operations. 17,000 staff fear the loss of employment. They face credible threats to their security because they work for UNRWA. They are part of Palestinian communities that, without UNRWA, will be deprived of access to education, primary healthcare and social support.

Today, Palestinians are facing an unprecedented and existential threat, compounded by efforts to prevent the Agency from providing critical services in the occupied Palestinian territory.

I urge Member States to use all available legal and political tools to prevent the implementation of the Knesset legislation that will cut the lifeline UNRWA provides.

The Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States and several UN Member States is a notable effort to ensure a just political solution that includes Palestine Refugees.

UNRWA is engaging closely with this initiative – we have a critical role to play in ensuring a viable transition as a provider of essential services like education and healthcare.

The Agency also requires urgent financial support to avoid an acute cashflow crisis early next year, precipitated by the funding suspension maintained by the United States.

My team and I will do everything in our power to continue delivering emergency assistance and essential services to Palestine Refugees.

I urge you to translate solidarity into action and make every effort to safeguard both UNRWA’s mandate and the thousands of staff who make our lifesaving work possible. Thank you.

II. UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies during Cairo humanitarian conference urge international support for humanitarian relief to Gaza and defend UNRWA

The statement of the Secretary-General, António Guterres reproduced below was delivered by Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance the humanitarian response in Gaza on 2 December. Statements were also made, inter alia, by the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, the Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Beth Bechdol, and Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva.

/…

I have the honour of presenting the Secretary-General’s speech. He would have loved being here. I thank President El-Sisi for convening this urgent conference, and I express my gratitude to Egypt for its leadership.

From day one, Egypt has been a leading voice in seeking a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Egypt is also a critical humanitarian hub, supporting the delivery of desperately needed relief to Gaza at this incredibly difficult moment.

I urge the international community to back these efforts and build a foundation for sustainable peace in Gaza and across the Middle East. That’s what this conference is about.

We are here to help secure an immediate surge in lifesaving aid for the Palestinian people, ensure preparedness for a potential ceasefire, and begin laying the groundwork for recovery and reconstruction. This cannot happen soon enough.

As we gather in Cairo, humanity itself is being tested. As I have said repeatedly, nothing justifies the 7 October abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas, nor the taking of hostages. And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Yet conditions for Palestinians in Gaza are appalling and apocalyptic.

More than 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been reportedly killed. Virtually the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, often multiple times.

Malnutrition is rampant. In the past four months alone, nearly 19,000 children were hospitalized due to acute malnutrition, nearly double the cases in the first half of the year. Famine is imminent.

Meanwhile, the health system has collapsed. And Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita anywhere in the world, many losing limbs and undergoing surgeries without even anaesthesia.

What we are seeing may well amount to the gravest international crimes.

/…

In the face of the gigantic needs, humanitarian aid is, outrageously, being blocked. This flies in the face of the clear requirements under international humanitarian law to respect and to protect civilians and to ensure their essential needs are met. It defies numerous General Assembly and Security Council resolutions demanding a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. And it ignores the International Court of Justice, which issued binding provisional orders that must be complied with.

At best, the entry of goods into Gaza is grossly insufficient, inconsistent and unpredictable, a drop in an ocean of need. “Aid by exception” is neither humane nor effective in saving lives. Any aid that does trickle through faces looting, while delivery is hampered by unexploded ordnance, as well as destroyed and overcrowded roads.

Last month, 90 per cent of aid trucks, 98 of 109, were looted at Kerem Shalom. This breakdown, and more, is a direct consequence of the failure to ensure public order and safety. But the crisis for Palestinians continues to worsen.

In North Gaza, the situation is growing more perilous by the day.

In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, militarized Israeli security operations, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions, violence and threats of annexation are inflicting further pain and injustice.

And Palestinians continue to be subject to draconian restrictions on their movement and their access to services, livelihoods and farmlands.

/…

The humanitarian community is doing all it can, but the obstacles are overwhelming. The aid system itself is in the crosshairs.

Since the conflict began, 251 UN colleagues have been killed, almost all of whom worked for UNRWA. In addition, humanitarian installations, including hospitals and schools, have been damaged or destroyed. This is absolutely unacceptable and must stop.

Israeli measures, including the recent Knesset bills, that could prevent UNRWA from fulfilling its mandate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, threaten to cripple humanitarian efforts. The result is a dystopian humanitarian landscape in which respect for basic principles of humanity is being shredded.

Let’s be clear: The nightmare in Gaza is not a crisis of logistics. It’s a crisis of political will and of respect for fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. As we discuss a path forward, I would like to focus on three key areas for action.

First, we must demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. The delivery of aid must be predictable and sustained. Humanitarian staff and operations must be guaranteed security. Access must be granted to all those in need, wherever they are.

The parties must uphold their responsibility to allow and facilitate the rapid, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief. United Nations premises must remain inviolable at all times. And any obstructions that leave civilians without relief must be removed. All parties are bound to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

Second, we must speak loudly and clearly in defence of the humanitarian aid system, in particular UNRWA. UNRWA is an irreplaceable lifeline for millions of Palestinians. Its extensive network of staff and infrastructure is needed now more than ever.

UNRWA has more schools, medical facilities, warehouses, offices and staff than all other humanitarian agencies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory combined. It is responsible for the provision of state-like functions: Providing schooling to more than half a million students, with an education that champions human rights, gender equality and UN values.

Carrying out 16,000 medical consultations a day and attending to over 895,000 patients in the West Bank alone every year, and dispensing vital social services.

No other entity has the capacity or reach to deliver lifesaving aid and social and development services at the scale and the breadth needed in Gaza, and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in general. UNRWA is a factor of stability and trust.

At a time when law and order in Gaza have completely broken down, the void that will be left without UNRWA would be impossible to fill. And make no mistake.

If UNRWA is forced to close, the responsibility of replacing its vital services, and meeting the core needs of Palestinians in Gaza — would rest with Israel as the occupying Power. Not the United Nations. Not the international community. But Israel — and Israel alone.

So, I appeal for the urgent and full support of lifesaving humanitarian relief for the Palestinian people through UNRWA. There is no alternative.

And third, we need to intensify efforts for a political solution to end this nightmare. It’s past time for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. For an end to the unlawful occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as envisaged by the International Court of Justice and requested by the General Assembly. And for a two-State solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions — with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

/…

The catastrophe in Gaza is nothing short of a complete breakdown of our common humanity. The nightmare must stop. We cannot continue to look away.

Four days ago, Hassan, our UNRWA staff, in a coordinated movement, was moving his family to safety. They came under fire, and by the time he found his family his wife, his three daughters had been killed, remaining himself and his son. It’s time to act.

With resolve this catastrophic conflict must stop. Thank you.

III. General Assembly adopts two resolutions to advance two-State solution, sets terms for international conference, requests annual Nakba commemoration

On 3 December, the General Assembly adopted the following resolutions: “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine” (document A/RES/79/81), “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat” (document A/RES/79/82). The texts and voting results are replicated below.

79/81. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine

The General Assembly,

Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session,

Recalling also its resolution 73/89 of 6 December 2018, entitled “Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East”,

Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 77/25 of 30 November 2022,

Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,

Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,

Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,

Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,

Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social systems or the level of their development,

Emphasizing the need for respect for, and the preservation of, the territorial integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Recalling in this regard the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[1] and the Court’s conclusion that Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, living side by side, in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognized borders, and that it is for all States, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end,

Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[2] and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,

Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the City of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the wall and its associated regime, demanding their immediate cessation, and condemning any use of force against Palestinian civilians in violation of international law, notably children,

Condemning the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas,

Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on all sides,

Calling for full respect for international law, including for the protection of civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de-escalation of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace,

Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international humanitarian law, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population,[3]

Stressing also the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,

Calling for the release of the bodies that have not yet been returned to their relatives, in line with international humanitarian law and human rights law, in order to ensure dignified closure in accordance with their religious beliefs and traditions,

Recalling the mutual recognition 31 years ago between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,[4] and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance with the agreements concluded between the two sides,

Stressing the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions contrary to international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues,

Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed at restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a peace treaty to achieve without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all final status issues, without exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the two-State solution, and of the Arab-Israeli conflict, for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,

Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with international support, to reform, develop, strengthen and preserve its institutions and infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli occupation, commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an independent Palestinian State, and stressing the need to promote intra-Palestinian reconciliation,

Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements made, as confirmed by the positive assessments by the international institutions regarding readiness for statehood, owing to the negative impact of the current instability and financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Government and the continued absence of a credible political horizon,

Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and noting its recent meeting held at the ministerial level in New York on 26 September 2024,

Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,

Welcoming the assistance extended by the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in in Ramallah and Jericho in July 2019, in support of Palestinian efforts towards an independent Palestinian State through the sharing of the experience of East Asian countries in economic development and exploring effective means of cooperation, aimed at contributing to the promotion of Palestinian development, the Middle East peace process and regional stability,

Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,[5] and the vote of the Security Council on 18 April 2024,[6] and taking note also of its resolution ES-10/23 of 10 May 2024, by which, inter alia, it recommended that the Security Council reconsider the matter favourably,

Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia, Palestine was accorded non‑member observer State status in the United Nations, and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,[7]

Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote respect for human rights and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, stressing the need for the protection of civil society actors to allow them to conduct their work freely and without fear of attacks and harassment from any party, and rejecting any attack against civil society,

Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967,

Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,

Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,[8] and stressing its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace,

Reiterates its call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including of East Jerusalem, and reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support, in accordance with international law, for the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre‑1967 borders;
Welcomes the launch on 27 September 2024, during the high-level week of the General Assembly and upon the initiative of Saudi Arabia, Norway and the European Union, of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and its first meeting, held in Riyadh on 30 and 31 October 2024, and also welcomes the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to be held in June 2025;
Stresses the need to urgently exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process based on the long-standing terms of reference and clear parameters and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls once more for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through meaningful negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the conclusion of a final just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
Stresses that compliance with and respect for the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
Calls upon both parties to act responsibly and in compliance with international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies and actions, in order to, with the support of the Quartet and other international and regional partners, urgently reverse negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are contrary to international law, and create the conditions necessary for a credible political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including as reflected in the advisory opinion of the International Court of 19 July 2024, including to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible, to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to put an end to its unlawful acts, including by repealing all legislation and measures creating or maintaining the unlawful situation, inter alia, those which discriminate against the Palestinian people, as well as all measures aimed at modifying the demographic composition of any parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
Rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza, stresses that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, and reaffirms the vision of the two-State solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian State;
Recalls the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for the achievement of a peaceful settlement and of just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all settlement activities, land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to ensure accountability, and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions;
Also stresses the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
Further stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and incitement;
Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre‑1967 borders;
Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its resolution 2334 (2016) of its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
Calls for:

(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem;

(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;

(c) A just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;

Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:

(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pre‑1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations, including by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967;

(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;

(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980;

(d) To respect and ensure respect for international law, in all circumstances, including through measures of accountability, consistent with international law;

Recalls its decision to convene during the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly an international conference under the auspices of the Assembly for the implementation of the United Nations resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and, considering paragraph 2 of the present resolution, decides to adopt the modalities set out in the annex to the present resolution for the convening of this international conference;
Urges all States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which is catastrophic in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
Recalls the conclusion of the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, that Israel is under an obligation to provide full reparation for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts to all natural or legal persons concerned;
Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region.

46th plenary meeting

3 December 2024

Annex

Modalities for the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution

The High-level International Conference (hereinafter “the Conference”) will be aimed at advancing the implementation of the United Nations resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The Conference shall be entitled “High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution”.
The Conference will be held in June 2025, in New York, preceded by one or more preparatory meetings, as needed.
The Conference will adopt an action-oriented outcome document entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution”, to urgently chart an irreversible pathway towards the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution.
The Conference will have:

(a) An opening segment on the first day of the plenary meetings, which will include, inter alia, statements from the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and the Co-Chairs of the Conference;

(b) A closing segment on the second day of the plenary meetings.

All States are encouraged to be represented at the highest possible level and to make statements in plenary of up to five minutes.
Entities having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the work of the General Assembly are invited to participate in the Conference and to make statements in plenary of up to five minutes.
The United Nations system, including the relevant funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions, as well as the Bretton Woods institutions, are invited to participate in the Conference and to make statements in the thematic round tables.
France and Saudi Arabia shall be appointed as Co-Chairs of the Conference.
The Co-Chairs are requested to facilitate open, transparent and inclusive intergovernmental consultations on the preparatory process of the Conference, and the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Conference shall consist of:

(a) Negotiations to conclude the outcome document with adequate time for the negotiating sessions;

(b) Determination of the topics and organization of the thematic round tables and designation by the Co-Chairs of the Conference of Co-Chairs for the thematic round tables;

(c) Preparatory discussions for the thematic round tables, in coordination with the designated Co-Chairs of the round tables.

The Secretary-General is requested to provide adequate support to the organization of and preparations for the Conference.
The Conference shall be webcast, and the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General are encouraged to give the highest visibility to the Conference, including during its preparation, through all relevant media platforms and information and communications technologies.

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/81: 157-8-7

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States of America

Abstaining: Cameroon, Czechia, Ecuador, Georgia, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay

79/82. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,[9]

Taking note, in particular, of the action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in accordance with their mandates,

Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including its resolution 77/23 of 30 November 2022,

Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 77/23;
Considers that, by providing substantive support to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a constructive and positive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine and of the urgency of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine in all its aspects on the basis of international law and United Nations resolutions and the efforts being exerted in this regard and to generating international support for the rights of the Palestinian people and the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre‑1967 borders, with an independent, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side, in peace and security, with Israel;
Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to effectively carry out its programme of work as detailed in relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance;
Requests the Division, in particular, to continue to monitor developments relevant to the question of Palestine, to organize international meetings and activities in support of the Committee’s mandate with the participation of all sectors of the international community and to ensure, within existing resources, the continued participation of eminent persons and international renowned experts in these meetings and activities, to be invited on a par with the members of the Committee, to liaise and cooperate with civil society and parliamentarians, including through the Working Group of the Committee, to develop and expand the “Question of Palestine” website and the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, to prepare and widely disseminate publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine in the relevant official languages of the United Nations and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and to develop and enhance the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Government in contribution to Palestinian capacity-building efforts;
Also requests the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity;
Further requests the Division to commemorate the anniversary of the Nakba, including by organizing annual events and through the dissemination of relevant archives and testimonies;
Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation with the Division of the United Nations system entities with programme components addressing various aspects of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks.

46th plenary meeting

3 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/82: 101-27-42

In favour: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America

Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic Of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Togo, Ukraine, Uruguay

IV. UN General Assembly adopts resolutions on Palestine refugees and settlements

On 4 December, the General Assembly adopted the following resolutions: “Assistance to Palestine refugees” (A/RES/79/88), “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” (A/RES/79/89), and “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan” (A/RES/79/91). The texts and voting results are replicated below.

79/88. Assistance to Palestine refugees

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 78/74 of 7 December 2023,

Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,

Recalling further the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

Aware of the fact that, for more than seven decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood,

Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region,

Acknowledging the essential role that the Agency has played for more than seven decades since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through the provision of education, health, relief and social services and ongoing work in the areas of camp infrastructure, microfinance, protection and emergency assistance,

Acknowledging also the commitment of the Agency to operate in line with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality,

Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the Agency covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023, [10]

Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of 31 May 2024, submitted pursuant to paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General,[11] and expressing concern regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative implications for the continued delivery of core programmes to the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation,

Aware of the extreme challenges and multiple severe crises being faced by the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Expressing grave concern at the especially dire situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions,

Expressing grave concern in particular at the catastrophic humanitarian situation and socioeconomic conditions of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance and urgent reconstruction efforts to urgently address this crisis,

Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization[12] and the subsequent implementation agreements,

Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs;
Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reaffirms its request to the Conciliation Commission to continue exerting efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly on the efforts being exerted in this regard as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2025;
Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services, including emergency assistance, for the well-being, protection and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees;
Calls upon all donors to continue to strengthen their efforts to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including with regard to increased expenditures and needs arising from conflicts and instability in the region and the grave socioeconomic and humanitarian situation, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those needs mentioned in recent emergency, recovery and reconstruction appeals and plans for the Gaza Strip and in the regional crisis response plans to address the situation of Palestine refugees in Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic and those Palestine refugees who have fled to countries in the region;
Commends the Agency for its provision of vital assistance to the Palestine refugees and its role as a stabilizing factor in the region and the tireless efforts of the staff of the Agency in carrying out its mandate;
Decides to admit, upon its request, Iraq, in accordance with the criterion set forth in General Assembly decision 60/522 of 8 December 2005, as a member of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

47th plenary meeting

4 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/88: 171-3-9

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Israel, Papua New Guinea

Abstaining: Cameroon, Liberia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Tonga, United States of America

79/89. Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to its resolution 78/75 of 7 December 2023,[13] as well as that of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024,[14]

Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [15] and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property,

Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees,

Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,[16] and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property,

Expressing its appreciation for the preservation and modernization of the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission, and stressing the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III),

Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,[17] to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees,

Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice;
Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel;
Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution;
Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution;
Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status peace negotiations;
Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

47th plenary meeting

4 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/89: 164-6-9

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United States of America

Abstaining: Cameroon, Fiji, Kiribati, Liberia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Togo, Tuvalu

79/91. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan

The General Assembly,

Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and the need to respect the obligations arising from the Charter and other instruments and rules of international law,

Reaffirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,

Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 78/78 of 7 December 2023, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session,

Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and stressing the need for their implementation,

Recalling further the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,[18]

Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,[19] the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[20] and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,[21] and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Reaffirming the applicability of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[22] and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol I [23] to the four Geneva Conventions,[24] to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan,

Affirming that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention,[25]

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the Court’s determination, inter alia, that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and that Israel has an obligation to bring it to an end as rapidly as possible, and its reaffirmation that the Israeli settlements and the regime associated with them have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,[26]

Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[27] and recalling further General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,

Taking note of the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967,[28] as well as of other relevant recent reports of the Human Rights Council,

Recalling the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,[29]

Recalling also the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993 [30] and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides,

Recalling further the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,[31] and emphasizing specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, including so-called natural growth, and the dismantlement of all settlement outposts erected since March 2001, and the need for Israel to uphold its obligations and commitments in this regard,

Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012,

Noting the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,

Aware that Israeli settlement activities involve, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the forced transfer of Palestinian civilians, including Bedouin families, the exploitation of natural resources, the fragmentation of territory and other actions against the Palestinian civilian population and the civilian population in the occupied Syrian Golan that are contrary to international law,

Bearing in mind the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on the ongoing regional and international efforts to resume and advance the peace process, on the prospects for the achievement of peace in the Middle East in accordance with the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre‑1967 borders, and on the viability and credibility of that solution,

Condemning settlement activities by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as violations of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions, the agreements reached between the parties and obligations under the Quartet road map and as actions in defiance of the calls by the international community to cease all settlement activities,

Deploring in particular Israel’s construction and expansion of settlements in and around occupied East Jerusalem, including its so-called E-1 plan that aims to connect its illegal settlements around and further isolate occupied East Jerusalem, the continuing demolition of Palestinian homes and eviction of Palestinian families from the city, the revocation of Palestinian residency rights in the city, and ongoing settlement activities in the Jordan Valley, all of which further fragment and undermine the contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Deploring the plans to demolish the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar, in contravention of international law, which would have serious consequences with regard to the displacement of its residents, severely threaten the viability of the two-State solution and undermine the prospect of peace, given the area’s sensitive location and importance for preserving the contiguity of the Palestinian territory, and demanding the cessation of such plans,

Condemning the demolition by Israel, in contravention of international law, of Palestinian buildings in the neighbourhood of Wadi al-Hummus in the village of Sur Bahir, south of occupied East Jerusalem, and of homes in Masafer Yatta, as well as other coercive measures potentially leading to the forced displacement and affecting over 1,200 Palestinian civilians,

Taking note of the Quartet report of 1 July 2016,[32] and stressing its recommendations, as well as its relevant statements in which the Quartet members concluded that, inter alia, the continuing policy of settlement construction and expansion, designation of land for exclusive Israeli use and denial of Palestinian development, including the recent high rate of demolitions, are steadily eroding the two-State solution,

Deploring the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern, in particular, about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949 and in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and which is causing humanitarian hardship and a serious decline of socioeconomic conditions for the Palestinian people, is fragmenting the territorial contiguity of the Territory and undermining its viability, and could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement,

Condemning acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, and recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction,

Condemning also all acts of violence, destruction, harassment, provocation and incitement by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, against Palestinian civilians, including children, and their properties, including historic and religious sites, and agricultural lands, as well as acts of terror by several extremist Israeli settlers, and calling for accountability for the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,

Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General, including pursuant to Security Council resolution 2334 (2016),[33]

Reaffirms that the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development;
Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan, and abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49, and comply with all of its obligations under international law and cease immediately all actions causing the alteration of the character, status and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the occupied Syrian Golan;
Reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls in this regard for the full implementation of all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including, inter alia, resolutions 446 (1979), 452 (1979) of 20 July 1979, 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 2334 (2016);
Stresses that a complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is essential for salvaging the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders;
Also stresses the urgent need to reverse negative trends on the ground, including the building of settlements and the demolition of Palestinian homes, which are imperilling the viability of the two-State solution and entrenching a situation of unequal rights and discrimination, and are preventing the Palestinian people from exercising their fundamental rights;
Recalls the affirmation by the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations;
Recalls the determination by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024, that Israel’s policies and practices amount to annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, contrary to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations and its corollary principle of the non-acquisition of territory by force, and stresses in this regard that the occupation of a territory is to be a temporary, de facto situation, whereby the occupying Power can neither claim possession nor exert its sovereignty over the territory it occupies, and recalls the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
Condemns in this regard settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons, the forced transfer of civilians and the annexation of land, whether de facto or through national legislation;
Recalls that the International Court of Justice observed that Israel’s legislation and measures impose and serve to maintain a near-complete separation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between the settler and Palestinian communities and considered that they constitute a breach of article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;[34]
Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinions rendered on 9 July 2004 and 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice, including to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible, to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to put an end to its unlawful acts, including by repealing all legislation and measures creating or maintaining the unlawful situation, inter alia, those which discriminate against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as all measures aimed at modifying the demographic composition of any parts of the Territory;
Recalls in this regard the conclusion of the International Court of Justice that Israel is under an obligation to provide full reparation for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts to all natural or legal persons concerned;
Reiterates its call for the prevention of all acts of violence, destruction, harassment and provocation by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including historic and religious sites and including in Occupied East Jerusalem, and their agricultural lands;
Calls for accountability for the illegal actions perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stresses in this regard the need for the implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including the confiscation of arms, aimed at preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, recalls in this regard the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population,[35] and welcomes the Secretary-General’s observations, including with respect to the expansion of existing protection mechanisms to prevent and deter violations;
Stresses the responsibility of Israel, the occupying Power, to investigate all acts of settler violence against Palestinian civilians and their properties and to ensure accountability for these acts and end prevailing impunity in this regard;
Calls upon all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies that ensure respect for their obligations under international law, including those outlined in the advisory opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, with regard to Israel’s unlawful presence and all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in relation to Israeli settlements and their associated regime, including, inter alia, the obligations of distinction and of non-recognition and non‑assistance to the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to its unlawful acts, as well as the obligation, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end and the obligation of all the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention;
Calls for measures of accountability, consistent with international law, including targeted measures against extremist settlers and against entities and organizations which support them, in the light of continued non-compliance with the demands for a complete and immediate cessation of all settlement activities, which are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-State solution impossible, stressing that compliance with and respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law is a cornerstone for peace and security in the region;
Recalls, in this regard, the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 2014 [36]by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, welcomes in this regard initiatives by States parties, both individually and collectively, in accordance with article 1 of the Convention, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention and accountability, and calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention to continue, individually and collectively, to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;
Also recalls that the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), called upon all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under international law and the relevant resolutions, not to recognize, and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining, the situation created by measures that are illegal under international law, including those aimed at advancing annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;
Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011,[37] concerning the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights [38] and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session on the implementation of the present resolution;
Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eightieth session the item entitled “Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories”.

47th plenary meeting

4 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/91: 151-9-19

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State Of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Fiji, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United States of America

Abstaining: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Czechia, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kiribati, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo, Tuvalu, Uruguay

V. UNICEF warns Gaza has become a graveyard for children and families

On 6 December, the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder made the following statement on the killing of children in Nuseirat and Al Mawasi, Gaza.

In a single day of bloodshed, children in different parts of the Gaza Strip were reportedly killed while sheltering inside their tents or desperately queueing for a piece of bread amid a rapidly worsening food crisis.

On Wednesday, an airstrike in Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, reportedly claimed the lives of four children near a local food distribution point. They were among civilians lining up for a meal until bombs started falling from the sky. Three boys and a girl aged 5 to 11.

Similarly, an airstrike reportedly hit 40 tents that evening in Al Mawasi, a unilaterally designated “humanitarian zone,” causing a massive explosion and fires. At least 22 people were reportedly killed, including eight children, with dozens more injured. Their piercing screams, engulfed in flames as they ran for their lives, will haunt humanity’s conscience for generations to come.

This grim week was preceded by the horrific events of last week, when two children and a woman were reportedly crushed to death while waiting in line outside a bakery in central Gaza. Hungry children swept up by despair.

Day after day, week after week for nearly 14 months now, Gaza has been nothing short of hell on Earth. No child should have to endure such atrocities and carnage, and no parent should have to bury their child. Gaza has become a graveyard for children and families. At least 43,000 people have reportedly been killed since the beginning of the war, many of them children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The overall humanitarian response in Gaza is teetering on the brink of full collapse. The lives of virtually all children are at risk or have been shattered by unimaginable trauma, loss, and deprivation. Their safety and access to essential humanitarian aid are not being facilitated as explicitly demanded by international law.

We call on the parties to the conflict to facilitate the delivery of much-needed aid by humanitarian actors into and throughout Gaza, and to take all necessary measures to ensure they always receive the required protection, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

With at least 50,000 children affected by acute malnutrition in Gaza – and hundreds of thousands displaced multiple times, no child queuing for a piece of bread or sheltering in a temporary tent should be trampled to death or killed by an airstrike. The ongoing normalization of such horror needs to turn into action to stop it. Enough is enough.

VI. Secretary-General alerts the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council regarding threat to UNRWA’s operations posed by Knesset laws

On 9 December, the Secretary-General, António Guterres addressed the following letter (A/79/684-S/2024/892).

I would like to bring to the attention of the General Assembly and the Security Council the serious situation which the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing in carrying out its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The Knesset of Israel, on 28 October 2024, enacted two laws concerning UNRWA: the Law to Cease UNRWA Operations and the Law to Cease UNRWA Operations in the Territory of the State of Israel. I understand that the laws were published on 30 October 2024.

The Law to Cease UNRWA Operations (unofficial translation by Israel from Hebrew) provides as follows:

Expiration of the exchange of letters between Israel and UNRWA

(a) The invitation to UNRWA, based on an exchange of letters between Israel and UNRWA from 6 Sivan 5727 (14 June A.D. 1967), will expire on 5 Tishrei 5785 (7 October A.D. 2024).

(b) The Minister for Foreign Affairs shall notify the United Nations of the expiration under subsection (a) within seven days of the passage of this law by the Knesset.

No contact with UNRWA

A government authority, including other bodies and individuals performing public duties according to law, shall not have any contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf.

Retention of laws

Nothing in the provisions of this law shall preclude any criminal proceeding against UNRWA employees, including such proceedings related to the events of 7 October 2023 or the Swords of Iron War, or any other criminal proceeding under Counter-Terrorism Law 5776-2016, or the exercise of powers against them within the framework of such proceedings.

Entry into force

This law shall come into force three months from the date of its publication. However, section 1 shall come into force on 5 Tishrei 5785 (7 October A.D. 2024) or on the date of the publication of this law, whichever is later.

Reporting to the Knesset

The National Security Council Director or their representative shall report to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee every six months and in the first year from the commencement of this law, every two months, on the implementation of the provisions of this law.

The Law to Cease UNRWA Operations in the Territory of the State of Israel (unofficial translation by Israel from Hebrew) provides as follows:

Purpose

The purpose of this law is to prevent any UNRWA operations within the territory of the State of Israel.

Prohibition of operations within the territory of the State of Israel

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) shall not operate any representative office, provide any services or carry out any activities, directly or indirectly, within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel.

Entry into force

This law shall come into force three months from the date of its publication.

Reporting to the Knesset

The National Security Council Director or their representative shall report to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee every six months and in the first year from the commencement of this law, every two months, on the implementation of the provisions of this law.

These laws, if implemented, could prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the General Assembly. The cessation of or restrictions on UNRWA activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory would have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees, considering that there is currently no realistic alternative to UNRWA which could adequately provide the services and assistance required.

Following the establishment of UNRWA by the General Assembly in its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, UNRWA has been providing assistance to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 1950. Under normal conditions, UNRWA operates almost 400 schools, over 65 primary health clinics and 1 hospital in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which enable the provision of education to over 350,000 children and over 5 million health consultations annually. More specifically, in East Jerusalem, UNRWA schools provide education to approximately 2,000 students and its health clinics serve around 40,000 registered patients. UNRWA has also been providing vital poverty relief and social services, including a social safety net, emergency assistance and food vouchers, benefiting over 1.2 million people.

In Gaza specifically, UNRWA has been the main provider of basic and essential services, providing education to approximately 300,000 children in 288 schools and 2 training centres, healthcare services to around 900,000 patients and around 3.5 million patient consultations annually in 22 primary health clinics, and emergency assistance to approximately 1.1 million people. Under the current crisis in Gaza, UNRWA is the backbone of the United Nations humanitarian relief operations, providing a lifeline, shelter or other support for the large majority of the population of nearly 2.3 million in Gaza who have all been affected by the ongoing conflict. This includes food assistance to approximately 1.9 million people, polio vaccinations for over 200,000 children, healthcare to around 15,000 people representing more than 60 per cent of total primary healthcare provision in Gaza, and shelters for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons inside and in the vicinity of over 100 schools.

Any cessation of UNRWA activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory would mean that millions of Palestine refugees who have been benefiting from UNRWA services and assistance would no longer be receiving them.

In the event that UNRWA is compelled to cease its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel would be left to ensure that the range of services and assistance which UNRWA has been providing are provided in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

In this regard, I recall that Israel continues to occupy the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip (International Court of Justice, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Advisory Opinion, 19 July 2024, paras. 86–94). Israel, as the occupying Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, is bound by the rules of international humanitarian law concerning occupation, including those contained in the Regulations respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land (“the Hague Regulations”) annexed to the Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 18 October 1907 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 (“the Fourth Geneva Convention”).

Among other things, I would like to recall the provisions below.

Article 43 of the Hague Regulations provides as follows in its French authentic text: “L’autorité du pouvoir légal ayant passé de fait entre les mains de l’occupant, celui-ci prendra toutes les mesures qui dépendent de lui en vue de rétablir et d’assurer, autant qu’il est possible, l’ordre et la vie publics en respectant, sauf empêchement absolu, les lois en vigueur dans le pays” (unofficial English translation: “The authority of the legitimate power having in fact passed into the hands of the occupant, the latter shall take all the measures in his power to restore and ensure, as far as possible, public order and safety, while respecting, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country”). In this regard, the International Court of Justice, in the advisory opinion mentioned above, stated that “the occupying Power bears a duty to administer the territory for the benefit of the local population”. The obligation under article 43 includes an obligation to respect the applicable rules of international human rights law.

Article 50, paragraph 1, of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides that “the Occupying Power shall, with the cooperation of the national and local authorities, facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children”.

Article 55, paragraph 1, of the Fourth Geneva Convention further provides that “to the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate”.

Article 56, paragraph 1, of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides that “to the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining, with the cooperation of national and local authorities, the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territory, with particular reference to the adoption and application of the prophylactic and preventive measures necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics. Medical personnel of all categories shall be allowed to carry out their duties.”

Israel has been and will continue to be bound by these obligations, alongside applicable treaties and customary rules of international human rights law, as long as its occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip continues.

I would also like to recall that article 59, paragraph 1, of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides that “if the whole or part of the population of an occupied territory is inadequately supplied, the Occupying Power shall agree to relief schemes on behalf of the said population, and shall facilitate them by all the means at its disposal”. If Israel is not in a position to meet the needs of Palestine refugees, it has an obligation to allow and facilitate the activities of the United Nations, including UNRWA, and other humanitarian agencies, until the needs of Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are met. However, the fact that humanitarian agencies are providing services and assistance to Palestine refugees does not absolve Israel from its obligations to ensure that the necessary services and assistance are provided. This is reflected in article 60 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides that “relief consignments shall in no way relieve the Occupying Power of any of its responsibilities under Articles 55, 56 and 59”. As such, the fact that UNRWA has been providing services and assistance to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory does not absolve Israel from its obligations to ensure that the necessary services and assistance are provided. In the event that UNRWA is compelled to cease its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel would still continue to be under an obligation to ensure that the necessary services and assistance are provided.

I wish to stress that nothing in the foregoing constitutes recognition of the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as being lawful or recognition of the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as legal. In this connection, I recall that the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion referred to above, concluded that “the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful” and that “the State of Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”. The Court further concluded that all States and international organizations, including the United Nations, “are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

I also recall that the General Assembly, on 18 September 2024, adopted resolution ES-10/24, entitled “Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, in which it “demand[ed] that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility, and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution” and “call[ed] upon the United Nations, and its bodies and organs, to respect and act in a manner consistent with the determinations made by the International Court of Justice”.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recall that Israel continues to be required to give effect to the terms of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (“the General Convention”), to which Israel has been a party since 21 September 1949 and which is applicable to UNRWA as an integral part of the United Nations, as well as the Exchange of Letters constituting a Provisional Agreement between UNRWA and Israel concerning Assistance to Palestine Refugees of 14 June 1967 (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 620, p. 183). While the Secretariat has sought assurances from the Government of Israel that Israel will comply with its obligations under the General Convention with respect to UNRWA by according to it in full the privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities for which it provides, the Secretariat has, to date, not received such assurances.

I would further like to recall that, as a Member of the United Nations, Israel continues to be required, pursuant to Article 2, paragraph 5, of the Charter of the United Nations, to give UNRWA every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the relevant decisions of competent principal organs adopted pursuant to the provisions of the Charter, including General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) and subsequent Assembly resolutions renewing the UNRWA mandate.

In connection with all the foregoing obligations of Israel under international law, I recall that Israel may not invoke the provisions of its internal law, including the laws mentioned above, as justification for its failure to perform those obligations.

Finally, I would like to assure Member States that I intend to continue doing my utmost to enable UNRWA to continue its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, pursuant to the mandate given to it by the General Assembly.

In this regard, I appreciate the support of the General Assembly and the support of the Security Council for UNRWA, as reflected in its press statement of 30 October 2024 (SC/15874), and I would appreciate any further support which the Assembly and the Council could provide in order to enable UNRWA to carry out its activities as mandated by the Assembly.

I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 34, 35, 49 and 72 (b), and of the Security Council.

(Signed) António Guterres

VII. General Assembly adopts resolution on assistance to the Palestinian People

On 9 December, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/141 without a vote. Its text is reproduced below.

79/141. Assistance to the Palestinian people

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 77/30 of 6 December 2022 and 78/121 of 8 December 2023, as well as its previous resolutions on the question,

Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self‑Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,[39] and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides,

Recalling further all relevant international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, and, in particular, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,[40] the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,[41] the Convention on the Rights of the Child[42] and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,[43]

Gravely concerned at the difficult living conditions and humanitarian situation affecting the Palestinian people, in particular women and children, throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip where economic recovery and vast infrastructure repair, rehabilitation and development are urgently needed, especially in the aftermath of the conflict of July and August 2014,

Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory,

Welcoming, in this context, the development of projects, notably on infrastructure, to revive the Palestinian economy and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people, stressing the need to create the appropriate conditions to facilitate the implementation of these projects, and noting the contribution of partners in the region and of the international community,

Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability,

Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership,

Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all people, in particular women and children, in the whole Middle East region, the promotion of which is facilitated, inter alia, in a stable and secure environment,

Deeply concerned about the negative impact, including the health and psychological consequences, of violence on the present and future well-being of children in the region,

Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, and recalling in this regard the National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza,

Expressing grave concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance and the need for the advancement of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip,

Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people,

Underlining the importance of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, held on 12 October 2014, and urging the timely and full disbursement of pledges for expediting the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction process,

Recalling the International Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State, held in Paris on 17 December 2007, the Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law, held on 24 June 2008, and the Palestine Investment Conferences, held in Bethlehem from 21 to 23 May 2008 and on 2 and 3 June 2010, and the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009,

Welcoming the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, convened in Tokyo in February 2013 and in Jakarta in March 2014, as a forum to mobilize political and economic assistance, including through exchanges of expertise and lessons learned, in support of Palestinian development,

Welcoming also the latest meetings of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, held in New York on 25 September 2013 and 22 September 2014, in Brussels on 27 May 2015, in New York on 30 September 2015, 19 September 2016, 18 September 2017, 27 September 2018, 26 September 2019, via videoconference on 2 June 2020 and on 23 February 2021, in Oslo on 17 November 2021, in Brussels on 10 May 2022, in New York on 22 September 2022, in Brussels on 3 and 4 May 2023 and in New York on 20 September 2023 and 26 September 2024,

Welcoming further the activities of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority,

Welcoming the implementation of the Palestinian National Development Plan 2011–2013 on governance, economy, social development and infrastructure and the adoption of the Palestinian National Development Plan 2014–2016: State-building to Sovereignty, and stressing the need for continued international support for the Palestinian State-building process, as outlined in the summary by the Chair of the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee held on 22 September 2014,

Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people,

Recognizing, in this regard, the positive contribution of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2014–2016, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing developmental support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,

Welcoming steps to ease the restrictions on movement and access in the West Bank, while stressing the need for further steps to be taken in this regard, and recognizing that such steps would improve living conditions and the situation on the ground and could promote further Palestinian economic development,

Welcoming also the tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations regarding access to the Gaza Strip, and calling for its full implementation and complementary measures that address the need for a fundamental change in policy that allows for the sustained and regular opening of the border crossings for the movement of persons and goods, including for humanitarian and commercial flows and for the reconstruction and economic recovery of Gaza,

Stressing that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and ensure the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,

Stressing also the urgency of reaching a durable solution to the crisis in Gaza through the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, including by preventing the illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition and by ensuring the sustained reopening of the crossing points on the basis of existing agreements, including the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between the Palestinian Authority and Israel,

Stressing, in this regard, the importance of the effective exercise by the Palestinian Authority of its full government responsibilities in the Gaza Strip in all fields, including through its presence at the Gaza crossing points,

Noting the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet,

Reaffirming the necessity of achieving a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its aspects, on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 1860 (2009), as well as the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference and the principle of land for peace, in order to ensure a political solution, with two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,[44]

Expressing grave concern about continuing violence against civilians,

Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;
Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and ongoing efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people, including with regard to the emergency humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip;
Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non‑governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people;
Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories;
Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non‑governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions;
Welcomes the meetings of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians of 25 September 2013, 22 September 2014, 27 May and 30 September 2015, 19 September 2016, 18 September 2017, 27 September 2018, 26 September 2019, 2 June 2020, 23 February and 17 November 2021, 10 May and 22 September 2022, 3 and 4 May and 20 September 2023 and 26 September 2024 and the outcome of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, held on 12 October 2014, and the generous donor response to support the needs of the Palestinian people, and urges the rapid disbursement of donor pledges;
Stresses the importance of following up on the results of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza to effectively promote economic recovery and reconstruction in a timely and sustainable manner;
Calls upon donors that have not yet converted their budget support pledges into disbursements to transfer funds as soon as possible, encourages all donors to increase their direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with its government programme in order to enable it to build a viable and prosperous Palestinian State, underlines the need for equitable burden-sharing by donors in this effort, and encourages donors to consider aligning funding cycles with the Palestinian Authority’s national budget cycle;
Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with priorities set forth by the Palestinian side;
Expresses its appreciation for the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and recognizes the vital role of the Agency in providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip;
Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the difficult humanitarian situation being faced by Palestinian women, children and their families and to help in the reconstruction and development of relevant Palestinian institutions;
Stresses the role that all funding instruments, including the European Commission’s Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socioeconomic Aid and the World Bank trust fund, have been playing in directly assisting the Palestinian people;
Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements;
Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs;
Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring free humanitarian access to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods;
Also stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of existing agreements, including the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population, as well as for imports and exports, within and into and out of the Gaza Strip;
Further stresses the need to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, premises, facilities, equipment, vehicles and supplies, as well as the need to ensure safe and unhindered access by humanitarian personnel and delivery of supplies and equipment, in order to allow such personnel to efficiently perform their task of assisting affected civilian populations;
Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non‑governmental organizations to extend to the Palestinian people, as rapidly as possible, emergency economic assistance and humanitarian assistance, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to counter the impact of the current crisis;
Stresses the need for the continued implementation of the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,[45] including with regard to the full, prompt and regular transfer of Palestinian indirect tax revenues;
Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing:

(a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people;

(b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eightieth session, under the item entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance”, the sub-item entitled “Assistance to the Palestinian people”.

50th plenary meeting

9 December 2024

VIII. General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session adopts two resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting UNRWA

On 11 December, the General Assembly adopted two resolutions “Demand for ceasefire in Gaza” (A/RES/ES-10/26) by a recorded vote of 158 in favour to 9 against, with 13 abstentions, and “Support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” (A/RES/ES-10/25) by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 9 against, with 11 abstentions during a resumption of its Tenth Emergency Special Session on Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The text and voting results are replicated below.

ES-10/26. Demand for ceasefire in Gaza

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling its resolutions regarding the question of Palestine, and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

Reaffirming also that all parties to armed conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and underscoring the importance of holding accountable those responsible for all violations of international law,

Deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism, reaffirming its rejection of forced displacement of the civilian population, including children, in violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and recalling that the taking of hostages is prohibited under international law,

Recalling the orders of provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide[46] in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), indicated by the Court on 26 January, 28 March and 24 May 2024, given its determination that there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused to the rights found by the Court to be plausible, namely the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts mentioned in article III of the Convention, recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[47] and underscoring that respect for the International Court of Justice and its functions, including the obligations under international law indicated in the exercise of its advisory jurisdiction and in its orders of provisional measures, is essential to international law and to an international order based on the rule of law,

Expressing its deep alarm over the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the lack of adequate healthcare services and the extreme state of food insecurity creating an imminent risk of famine notably in the north, and its grave impact on children, women and other civilians,

Commending the ongoing efforts of the United Nations under the leadership of its Secretary-General, and regional and international actors, to achieve an immediate ceasefire, secure the release of the hostages and address the catastrophic humanitarian situation, emphasizing the imperative and obligations of all parties to allow and facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance by United Nations agencies and other humanitarian actors, emphasizing also that actions obstructing the operations of these actors may contravene the Charter and undermine international peace and security, expressing deep alarm at the number of humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, and recalling its demand that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to humanitarian access, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their freedom of movement,

Demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages;
Also demands that the parties fully comply with their obligations under international law in relation to persons they detain, including by releasing all those arbitrarily detained and all human remains;
Further demands immediate access by the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to basic services and humanitarian assistance indispensable to its survival, while rejecting any effort to starve Palestinians, and further demands the facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance, at scale and under the coordination of the United Nations, to and throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians who need it, including to civilians in besieged north Gaza, who are in urgent need of immediate humanitarian relief;
Calls upon all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and persons hors de combat, as well as civilian objects;
Demands that the parties fully, unconditionally and without delay implement all the provisions of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024) of 10 June 2024 regarding an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of the remains of hostages who have been killed, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza;
Underscores that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, rejects actions that undermine the implementation of the mandate of the Agency, welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General and the Agency to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, and calls upon all parties to enable the Agency to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and to respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of United Nations and humanitarian facilities;
Stresses the need for accountability, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to present, in the written assessment on the implementation of the present resolution requested in paragraph 9 below, and in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability through existing mechanisms and through the establishment of new mechanisms, based on its experience in other situations;
Reiterates its unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian State, and where two democratic States, Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, and in this regard rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the Gaza Strip, and stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority;
Requests a written assessment by the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution within three weeks of its adoption;
Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive written report within 60 days of the adoption of the present resolution, which should include a needs assessment for Gaza in the short, medium and long term, an elaboration of the humanitarian, social and economic consequences of the conflict in Gaza, and an overview of the work of different parts of the United Nations system relevant to Gaza, along with recommendations on how to strengthen coordination across these parts;
Decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION ES-10/26: 158-9-13

In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic Of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, United States of America

Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Fiji, Georgia, Lithuania, Malawi, Micronesia (Federated States Of), Palau, Panama, Slovakia, South Sudan, Togo, Ukraine

ES-10/25. Support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 78/73 of 7 December 2023,

Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

Recalling further Security Council resolution 2730 (2024 of 24 May 2024 on the protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and all other relevant resolutions,

Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023,[48]

Taking note of the letter dated 25 June 2024 from the Chair of the Advisory Commission of the Agency addressed to the Commissioner-General,[49]

Having considered the letter dated 28 October 2024 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly[50] bringing to the attention of the General Assembly, on an urgent basis, developments which could prevent the Agency from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the Assembly, and seeking its guidance and support,

Having considered also the letter dated 28 October 2024 from the Commissioner-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly warning, inter alia, that “the Agency is under such physical, political and operational attack – unprecedented in United Nations history – that implementation of its mandate may become impossible without decisive intervention by the General Assembly”,

Emphasizing the vital role of the Agency in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees through essential education, health, relief and social services programmes and emergency assistance in all the fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, namely in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,

Expressing grave concern at the especially dire situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions,

Expressing grave concern also at the catastrophic humanitarian situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip as a result of military attacks, severe restrictions on humanitarian access, mass forced displacement, spread of hunger, disease and poverty, mass destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, refugee camps, hospitals and Agency schools and facilities serving as shelters for displaced persons, and loss of learning and livelihoods,

Condemning the killing, injury and detention contrary to international law of Agency staff, the attacks affecting its facilities in the Gaza Strip and its compound in occupied East Jerusalem, and incitement against the Agency, and demanding the cessation of all such actions,

Deploring the endangerment of the safety of the Agency’s staff and the unprecedented high number of casualties inflicted on Agency personnel in the Gaza Strip by military attacks, any breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, and the damage and destruction caused to the facilities and properties of the Agency, including schools sheltering displaced civilians, stressing the need to maintain the neutrality and safeguard the inviolability of United Nations premises, installations and equipment and the immunity of its personnel, and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability,

Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement and access of Agency personnel, vehicles and goods, the injury, harassment and intimidation of the Agency staff, and denial of entry visas to Agency staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide life-saving assistance and essential basic and emergency services in accordance with its mandate,

Deeply concerned also about attempts to discredit the Agency, as well as attempts to undermine and terminate its operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, despite its proven operational capacity, record of effective provision of humanitarian and development assistance and consistent implementation of its mandate in accordance with relevant resolutions and its regulatory framework, even under the most difficult circumstances, and stressing the need to safeguard its vital humanitarian and development work,

Recalling the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, led by Catherine Colonna, and its findings, welcoming the commitment affirmed by the Secretary-General and the Agency to fully implement its recommendations, and stressing the need to provide the Agency with the required resources for implementation,

Taking note of the measures taken by the Agency concerning the termination of the employment of nine Agency staff members following the attacks of 7 October 2023, and underscoring the importance of taking timely and appropriate measures to address any credible allegations, and to ensure accountability for any violations of the Agency’s policies related to the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence,

Reaffirming the need for accountability in accordance with international law and for ensuring justice for the victims,

Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[51] to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and underscoring the obligations of Israel thereunder as the occupying Power,

Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,[52]

Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,[53] Security Council resolution 2730 (2024) and all relevant resolutions concerning the safety and security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, including General Assembly resolution 78/118 of 8 December 2023, as well as Security Council resolutions on the protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including resolution 2175 (2014) of 29 August 2014 and resolution 2730 (2024),

Affirms its full support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East in all of its fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arabic Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
Deplores the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset on 28 October 2024, and calls upon the Israeli Government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of the Agency and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip, including the provision of sorely needed basic services to the civilian population;
Reaffirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the Agency and the importance of its unimpeded operation and provision of services, including emergency assistance, for the well-being, protection and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees in line with the relevant resolutions;
Stresses that, at a time of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East, the Agency continues to play an indispensable role in ameliorating the plight of the more than 6 million Palestine refugees registered with the Agency and in providing a crucial measure of stability in the region, including by mitigating the consequences of alarming trends and severe crises in the Agency’s areas of operation, including increasing violence, marginalization and poverty;
Expresses its appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Commissioner-General and the staff of the Agency in all fields of operation in fulfilment of the mandate of the Agency and respect for the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, particularly in the light of the dire humanitarian conditions, instability and unprecedented crises faced during the past year;
Commends the Agency for its extraordinary efforts, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies on the ground, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and medical aid, to refugees and affected civilians during periods of crisis and conflict, and recognizes its exemplary capacity to mobilize in emergency situations while continuously carrying out its core human development programmes, particularly its education programme;
Emphasizes in particularthat the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, and affirms that no organization can replace or substitute the Agency’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance;
Underscores in this regardthe critical role also to be played by the Agency in implementing urgently needed recovery and stabilization efforts in a post-ceasefire period in the Gaza Strip, considering its personnel capacity, operational agility, network of facilities, decades of proven humanitarian and human development expertise and cost-effective operations in comparison to other organizations;
Strongly warnsagainst any attempts to dismantle or diminish the operations and mandate of the Agency, recognizing that any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestine refugees who depend on the Agency’s services and also implications for the region;
Deplores breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, the failure to accord the property and assets of the Organization immunity, the failure to protect United Nations personnel, premises and property and any disruption caused to Agency operations by such violations;
Demands that all parties act, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions, to enable the Agency to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all fields of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and respect international humanitarian law obligations, including the protection of United Nations and humanitarian facilities;
Also demands that Israel respect the mandate of the Agency and its privileges and immunities and act forthwith to enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia, to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip in accordance with the mandate of the Agency and to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe;
Reiterates its demand that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including, inter alia, to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care, to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip;
Calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in all aspects and to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its installations and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, at all times, to comply with international humanitarian law, and to cease obstructing the movement and access of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and levying taxes, extra fees and charges on the Agency;
Underscores the imperative of reparations, in accordance with international law, for all losses, damage and destruction sustained by the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and calls upon the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary assessments to this end;
Calls upon all parties to ensure respect for and the protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance and to respect and protect the inviolability of United Nations premises;
Calls upon the Agency to fully implement its high-level action plan for the implementation of the 50 recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality (Colonna Report), and welcomes the commitment affirmed by the Secretary-General and the Agency to fully implement the recommendations, and urges Member States to provide the necessary political and financial support to enable timely, effective and accelerated implementation;
Stresses the need to support the capacity of the Agency to uphold its mandate and to avert the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its vital work;
Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as is practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of recent crises in the Agency’s fields of operation;
Welcomes the efforts of donors, organizations and host countries to respond to the Agency’s unprecedented financial crisis, including through generous, additional contributions, including to the Agency’s emergency appeals;
Also welcomes the Statement of Shared Commitments on UNRWA, initiated by Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia on 22 May 2024, which expressed support for the Agency to effectively uphold the mandate conferred on the Agency by the General Assembly in all fields of operation in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic;
Expresses its appreciation for the important support and cooperation provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties;
Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities;
Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East[54] and the efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work;
Urges immediate efforts to address the financial and operational crises affecting the Agency due, inter alia, to rising needs and expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic conditions, unprecedented humanitarian crises and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the ability of the Agency to deliver essential services to the Palestine refugees, especially in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon;
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the Agency[55] and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, including the proposal for an increased assessed contribution from the regular budget of the United Nations;
Recalls paragraph 61 of its resolution 78/252of 22 December 2023, in which it decided to reallocate the remaining 50 per cent of resources related to executive and administrative management functions envisaged to be proposed by the Secretary-General in the 2025 budget to the 2024 budget of the Agency;
Recognizes the Agency’s extremely dire financial situation and the necessity to strengthen its capacity to respond to the increased and emerging needs related to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as to further strengthen and sustain the Agency’s compliance with the recommendations of the Independent Review (Colonna Report) through increased contributions, including from the assessed regular budget of the United Nations;
Requests the Secretary-General to submit a proposal for funding requirements in the context of the proposed programme budget for 2026, in support of international staff requirements, in accordance with resolution 3331 B (XXIX)of 17 December 1974;
Appeals to States and organizations for voluntary contributions to the Agency, including multi-year funding agreements and an increase in such contributions where possible, in particular for the programme budget of the Agency, as well as for its emergency, recovery and reconstruction programmes as set out in its appeals and response plans, to support the mandate of the Agency, to alleviate its recurrent underfunding, to mitigate imminent risks to its core and emergency programming and to prevent the interruption of essential assistance to the Palestine refugees and the dire repercussions of any such interruption;
Recognizes the important and indispensable role of the Agency in its 75 years of existence and work in assisting the Palestine refugees throughout its five fields of operations and contributing to regional stability; underscores that it is irreplaceable, and stresses the importance of cooperation of all States and other United Nations bodies with the Agency to enable the effective implementation of its mandate in all fields of operation until the realization of a just solution to the question of Palestine, including for the Palestine refugees, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.

59th plenary meeting

11 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION ES-10/25: 159-9-11

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, United States of America

Abstaining: Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czechia, Fiji, Georgia, Hungary, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Republic of Moldova, South Sudan, Togo

IX. Civilians in Gaza are paying the price of the continuing exchange of fire between the parties – UNSCO

On 13 December, the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi on the Situation in the Gaza Strip issued the following statement.

I am very concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Gaza. Civilians are paying the price of the continuing exchange of fire between the parties.

In recent days, multiple strikes across the Gaza Strip have resulted in scores of reported fatalities, and numerous injuries. Women and children continue to be among the casualties. Such incidents are further reminders of the unbearable human cost of the conflict.

I am equally concerned by the unacceptably insecure environment in Gaza that continues to negatively impact United Nations aid convoys. On 11 December, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom crossing was violently attacked by looters, leading to the loss of nearly all food and aid supplies. Around the same time, a WFP convoy leaving the Kissufim crossing came under fire, faced extensive delays, and had four out of five trucks violently looted. Attacks undermining humanitarian operations are unacceptable. They threaten the survival of those in desperate need of assistance.

Attacks on humanitarian operations can be avoided: earlier this week, through an Israeli agreement for us to use the Philadelphi corridor, a joint UN convoy delivered urgently needed food, reaching nearly 200,000 people in southern and central Gaza.

We remain committed to supporting the people of Gaza, working around the clock to get critical aid to families who lack everything after 14 months of war.

The principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attacks must be respected at all times. I call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and the safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid.

The United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting efforts for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.

Urgent action is needed to end atrocities, address the conflict’s root causes, and safeguard the lives and dignity of all people in the region.

X. Conflict in Gaza devastated children, with over 14,500 reportedly killed, UNICEF warns after attack on Nuseirat camp

On 14 December, the UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell issued the following statement.

Yesterday, in yet another devastating attack on Nuseirat camp, in central Gaza, 33 people were reportedly killed – including at least eight children – and 50 wounded by airstrikes. The latest violence adds to a staggering figure of more than 160 children reportedly killed in Gaza in a little over a month. That is an average of four children every day since the beginning of November.

Children didn’t start this conflict and they have no power to stop it, yet they are paying the highest price with their lives and futures. In the last 14 months, more than 14,500 children have reportedly been killed, and virtually all 1.1 million children in Gaza are in urgent need of protection and mental health support. Famine continues to loom in the north and humanitarian access remains severely restricted.

Children and families throughout Gaza face constant displacement, which has pushed 1.9 million people away from their homes, including hundreds of thousands of children. There is no safe space in Gaza, nor any sense of stability for children, who lack essentials such as food, safe water, medical supplies, and warm clothes as winter temperatures drop. Preventable diseases continue to rapidly spread, including more than 800 cases of hepatitis, and more than 300 cases of chickenpox. Thousands of children are suffering from skin rashes and acute respiratory infections. Winter weather is adding to children’s suffering.

The world cannot look away when so many children are exposed to daily bloodshed, hunger, disease, and cold. We urgently call on all parties to the conflict, and on those with influence over them, to take decisive action to end the suffering of children, to release all hostages, to ensure children’s rights are upheld, and to adhere to obligations under international humanitarian law.”

XI. General Assembly adopts resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

On 17 December, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/163. The text and voting results are replicated below.

79/163. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

The General Assembly,

Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter,

Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, entitled “Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations”,

Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights,[56] the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,[57] the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples[58] and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,[59]

Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative[61] and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,[62]

Stressing also the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012,

Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,

Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine;
Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination.

53rd plenary meeting

17 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/163: 172-7-8

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State Of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, United States of America

Abstaining: Ecuador, Kiribati, Liberia, Palau, Panama, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu

XII. Israel must stop the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank – OHCHR emphasises

On 18 December, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Occupied Palestinian Territory issued the following press release.

Israel is accelerating steps to consolidate the annexation of the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to appropriate Palestinian lands; replacing Palestinian communities with settlers in violation of international law. These actions go counter to the findings of the International Court of Justice last July which concluded that the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible and called for the immediate evacuation of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Recent developments are of particular concern with mass demolitions in East Jerusalem and demolitions carried out for the first time in a natural reserve in Area B which is under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian authorities.

Mass demolitions in East Jerusalem and Hebron

On Monday, 16 December, Israeli security forces carried out mass demolitions of Palestinian property in East Jerusalem and Hebron governorate citing the lack of Israeli building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain due to discriminatory planning and zoning laws aimed at quelling Palestinian construction.

This included the reported demolition of nine homes and two additional structures which displaced at least 31 Palestinians in Al Bustan area of Al Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. Al Bustan area in its entirety is slated for demolition as Israel advances a plan to replace it with a new settlement project. Since 7 October of last year, 25 Palestinian homes were demolished in Al Bustan, with 100 other buildings housing 1,500 Palestinians currently under immediate threat of demolition.

“We affirm our categorical rejection of any project imposed on us through the use of threats, demolitions, and fire. We stress that our rights to housing and to a dignified life is non-negotiable,” the residents of Al Bustan area said in a statement to the media released on Tuesday, 17 December.

Israeli security forces also reportedly demolished six more homes in Anata town, northeast of East Jerusalem, which have been under the threat of demolition for the past four years. The Palestinian residents’ petition to halt the demolition was dismissed by an Israeli court — a routine outcome in most such cases.

In Hebron, commercial structures hosting about 50 Palestinian-owned shops were also demolished for lack of Israeli permits. The shops were built to provide an alternative source of income for Palestinian families from the communities of Ar Ramdin and Ad-Dhahiriya after their permits to work in Israel and Israeli settlements were revoked in the aftermath of 7 October 2023.

Thwarting Palestinian development

With an extensive body of Israeli discriminatory laws and policies that prevent Palestinians from building on their own land, they are often forced to build without permits to accommodate their growing communities. On 12 December, Israeli security forces demolished eight residential buildings under construction in an area classified as a natural reserve — Al Malha reserve in Bethlehem. This is the first Israeli demolition operation to take place in an area classified as “Area B” for lack of Israeli building permits. It came after the Israeli Civil Administration issued a military order and took over the authority of the natural reserve from the Palestinian Authority last July. This raises concerns about the unlawful expansion of Israeli sovereignty over more and more parts of the West Bank.

A web of illegal practices

In July, the International Court of Justice held that the continued presence of Israel in the Palestinian Territory is unlawful as it amounts to the annexation of large parts of the West Bank and the denial of Palestinians’ right to self-determination. The Court pointed out numerous Israeli practices used to achieve this including discriminatory home demolition and forcible transfer, the presence and expansion of unlawful Israeli settlements built on unlawfully seized Palestinian land, and systematic discrimination including through the unlawful application of Israeli laws and policies.

However, Israel’s steps to replace Palestinian communities with settlers and further extend its sovereignty over the West Bank have accelerated. Nine new settlements and 49 new outposts were built on Palestinian land between 31 October 2023 and 1 November 2024, a 193 per cent increase compared to the previous year. In the meantime, 1617 Palestinian structures have been demolished in 2024 to date compared to 1175 in 2023.

Israel must immediately reverse this trend and comply with its obligations under international law, including those set out by the International Court of Justice. Third states also have a crucial role to play in halting Israel’s unlawful conduct and must neither recognize as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory nor assist Israel in maintaining this situation. This requires states to carefully consider a wide range of their interactions with Israel, including trade and economic relations and support for Israel’s military.

XIII. General Assembly adopts resolution on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources

On 19 December, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/229. The text and voting results are replicated below.

79/229. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 78/170 of 19 December 2023, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2023/34 of 26 July 2023,

Recalling also its resolutions 58/292 of 6 May 2004 and 59/251 of 22 December 2004,

Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources,

Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016,

Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,

Bearing in mind its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”,

Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[63] to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[64] and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,[65] and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan,

Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[66] and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,

Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[67]

Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012,

Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law treaties, as well as to other international treaties,

Expressing its concern about the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

Expressing its grave concern about the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees and the destruction of farms and greenhouses, and the grave environmental and economic impact in this regard,

Expressing its grave concern also about the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular in the Gaza Strip, which, inter alia, has polluted the environment and which negatively affects the functioning of water and sanitation systems and the water supply and other natural resources of the Palestinian people, and stressing the urgency of the reconstruction and development of water and other vital civilian infrastructure,

Expressing its grave concern further about the negative impact on the environment and on reconstruction and development efforts of unexploded ordnance that remains in the Gaza Strip as a result of the conflict, and commending the efforts of the Mine Action Service of the United Nations for the safe removal of such ordnance,

Expressing its grave concern about the chronic energy shortage in the Gaza Strip and its detrimental impact on the operation of water and sanitation facilities, which threaten to further erode groundwater resources, of which only 4 per cent remains potable,

Deploring the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, including the destruction of orchards and crops and the seizure of water wells by Israeli settlers, and of the dire socioeconomic consequences in this regard,

Aware of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect as well on the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people,

Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement on all tracks, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) , 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002 and 2334 (2016), the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative[69] and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,[70] as endorsed by the Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and supported by the Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,

Stressing also, in this regard, the need for respect for the obligation upon Israel under the road map to freeze settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,

Stressing further the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Recalling that the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), underlined that it would not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,

Recalling also the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction,

Taking note of the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, as transmitted by the Secretary-General,[71]

Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land, water and energy resources;
Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan;
Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, and Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with within the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides;
Stresses that the wall and settlements being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, are contrary to international law and are seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations affirmed in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice[72] and in relevant United Nations resolutions, including General Assembly resolution ES-10/15;
Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease immediately and completely all policies and measures aimed at the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to bring a halt to all actions, including those perpetrated by Israeli settlers, harming the environment, including the dumping of all kinds of waste materials, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely water and land resources, and which pose an environmental, sanitation and health threat to the civilian populations;
Further calls upon Israel to cease its destruction of vital infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity networks, and to cease its demolition and confiscation of Palestinian homes and civilian infrastructure, agricultural lands and water wells, which, inter alia, have a negative impact on the natural resources of the Palestinian people, stresses the urgent need to advance reconstruction and development projects in this regard, including in the Gaza Strip, and calls for support for the necessary efforts in this regard;
Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to remove all obstacles to the implementation of critical environmental projects, including sewage treatment plants in the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction and development of water infrastructure, including the project for the desalination facility for the Gaza Strip;
Also calls upon Israel not to impede Palestinian development and export of discovered oil and natural gas reserves;
Calls for the immediate and safe removal of all unexploded ordnance in the Gaza Strip and for support for the efforts of the Mine Action Service of the United Nations in this regard, and welcomes the extensive efforts exerted by the Mine Action Service to date;
Encourages all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlement activities and the exploitation of natural resources;
Underscores, in this regard, the call by the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), upon all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, and to the Assembly at its eightieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including with regard to the cumulative impact of the exploitation, damage and depletion by Israel of natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and with regard to the impact of such practices on the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals,[73] and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eightieth session the item entitled “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”.

54th plenary meeting

19 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/229: 162-8-10

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Canada, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States of America

Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Fiji, Kiribati, Panama, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo, Tonga

XIV. Secretary-General reports on implementation of GA resolution 10/24 on ICJ Advisory opinion on illegality of Israeli occupation

On 19 December, the report of the Secretary-General (A/79/588) was submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/ES-10/24 on any actions taken by Israel, other States and international organizations for the implementation of its provisions or for any violations thereof. The conclusions and observations of the report are replicated below.

VII. Conclusions and observations

A just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is contingent upon the end of the protracted Israeli occupation and resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Progress toward peace must address and fully realize the fundamental and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination. It must also address the legitimate security concerns of Israel and the State of Palestine. I welcome the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. I also welcome the sustained engagement of the General Assembly on the matter, which is centrally shaping progress towards tangible, irreversible steps to end the occupation as rapidly as possible and achieve a viable two-State solution.
I appreciate the contributions received for the present report from more than 30 States, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in particular given the time constraints for the report. Several requests for more time for the compilation and submission of contributions were received which, unfortunately, could not be accommodated because of the mandated time frame for the report. The responses reflect support for the conclusions of the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion and for the implementation of General Assembly resolution ES‑10/24, including that the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible. In resolution ES‑10/24, the Assembly demanded that Israel end its unlawful presence no later than 12 months from the adoption of that resolution on 18 September 2024. I urge Israel to heed the demands of the Assembly to comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice.
Israeli policies and practices, in particular the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, are systematically altering the landscape and demography of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, creating dangerous dynamics for the safety, security and prosperity of Israelis and Palestinians. These policies and practices pose an existential threat to the two-State solution. Settlement expansion, State and settler violence, and recent Israeli administrative steps and large-scale State land declarations are fundamentally fragmenting the landscape of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and further entrenching the unlawful occupation by Israel. I call on all Member States to help stop and reverse this alarming trajectory.
The responses received from Member States for the present report reflect their strong commitment to supporting Palestinian rights and sovereignty, with many referring to several political, diplomatic, economic and legal tools that could facilitate an end to the unlawful occupation by Israel and ensure accountability for violations of international law by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. I regularly report on some of these measures. For example, my quarterly reports on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) include developments related to the policies of Member States on distinguishing, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. In the same reports, I have also highlighted sanctions imposed on violent Israeli settlers, relevant legal proceedings in international courts and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine or with the State of Israel.
The responses from Member States and observers also illustrate their collective commitment to peace, justice and accountability. These include the initiation of or support for legal proceedings in international courts, the launching of global initiatives and collective advocacy aimed at ending the occupation and achieving a viable two-State solution. In this regard, the advocacy of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in particular through the ministerial committee of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit, is welcome and commendable. The Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, launched during the high-level week of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, is also an important positive initiative. I encourage Member States and regional organizations to support such initiatives until the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is brought to an end and a viable two-State solution is achieved.
I recognize that the 19 July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, requested by the General Assembly in December 2022, was rendered in a drastically different context – nine months after the horrifying 7 October 2023 attacks, which dramatically altered the dynamics for Israelis and Palestinians. Decisive actions are urgently needed to secure an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza; this is long overdue. I note that, in response to the catastrophic levels of death and destruction unleashed on Gaza since 7 October 2023, there have been mounting calls by Member States and others for the suspension of the transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment that Israel may be using for its military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for restricting arms transfers to Israel accordingly. I note, in this context, that on 1 November I received a letter from a cross-regional group of more than 50 Member States calling for “immediate steps to be taken to halt the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel, the occupying Power, in all cases where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as stipulated in General Assembly resolution ES‑10/24”. I urge Member States to ensure that any arms transfers to Israel are in accordance with their obligations under international law, including common article 1 of the four Geneva Conventions and the relevant provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty, as applicable.
I reiterate my strong condemnation of the horrific 7 October attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Israel and the continued holding of more than 100 hostages in Gaza. I also, once again, strongly and unequivocally condemn the horrific killing and maiming of Palestinian civilians as a result of the unrelenting military operations of Israel. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages. Palestinians arbitrarily detained in Israel must either be released without delay or detained on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established by law. Pending their release, all must be treated humanely and allowed to receive visits and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross. All parties must respect international law. Appropriate steps must be taken to ensure accountability in accordance with international law.
Israel, as the occupying Power, must abide by all of its obligations under international law. I call on Israel to immediately allow the passage and delivery of desperately needed humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including at scale across the Gaza Strip. In this regard, I also recall the provisional measures indicated earlier this year by the International Court of Justice in the case Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). I have repeatedly urged Israel to ensure the protection of the Palestinian population across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to investigate and hold perpetrators of all attacks accountable. These include lethal attacks by Israeli settlers, who are rarely held accountable, including when such attacks occur in the proximity, or with the support, of Israeli security forces. I take note of the complementary efforts of Member States in this regard, in particular the increasing number that have started imposing sanctions against violent and extremist settlers and settler-related enterprises.
I note that, in its advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice noted that it was of the view that “the regime of comprehensive restrictions imposed by Israel on Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory constitutes systemic discrimination based on, inter alia, race, religion or ethnic origin, in violation of articles 2, paragraph 1, and 26 of the [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights], article 2, paragraph 2, of the [International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights] and article 2 of [the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination]”. The Court further observed that “Israel’s legislation and measures impose and serve to maintain a near-complete separation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between the settler and Palestinian communities” and considered “[f]or this reason … that Israel’s legislation and measures constitute a breach of article 3 of [the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination]”. The present report provides the General Assembly with two proposals for the establishment of a mechanism to follow up on the violations of article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as requested by the Assembly in its resolution ES‑10/24, for its consideration.
United Nations entities are in the process of reviewing their respective programmes, policies and practices with a view to the implementation of resolution ES‑10/24, including relevant terminologies, maps, statements and reports, and making relevant adjustments, as needed, including in reports of the Secretary-General. Further adjustments, as relevant, will be undertaken by United Nations entities in due course. I urge all United Nations specialized agencies and related organizations, in line with their respective mandates and subject to the decisions of their governing bodies, to make any necessary adjustments to their relevant programmes, policies and practices.
The United Nations is steadfast in its commitment to support ending the unlawful occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territory as rapidly as possible and supporting Palestinians and Israelis in resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the achievement of the two-State solution, with Israel and a fully independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine, of which the Gaza Strip is an integral part, living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
To this end, I commit to continuing to support the implementation of resolution ES‑10/24and look forward to the High-level International Conference to be held in June 2025 under the auspices of the General Assembly, which will be aimed at advancing the implementation of the United Nations resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

XV. General Assembly requests an ICJ Advisory Opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the UN, other international organizations and third states

On 19 December, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/232. The text and voting results are replicated below.

79/232. Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third states

The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including the inalienable right of self-determination of peoples and the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,

Having considered the letter dated 28 October 2024 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly[74] bringing to the attention of the General Assembly, on an urgent basis, developments which could prevent the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the General Assembly,

Having noted that, according to the aforementioned letter, it can readily be appreciated that a situation may exist in which a difference has arisen between the United Nations and the State of Israel regarding, among other things, the interpretation or application of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,[75] to which Israel is a party,

Acknowledging, moreover, the statement by the Secretary-General, in his letter, that he would be grateful for any guidance and support which the General Assembly may be able to provide at this critical juncture in the history of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,

Having noted that the Secretary-General, in a letter dated 9 December 2024,[76] has again brought the situation to the attention of the General Assembly and the Security Council,

Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session,

Recalling also all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016,

Stressing the obligation of all Member States to fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, including to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 77/247 of 30 December 2022, by which it decided, in accordance with Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations, to request the International Court of Justice, pursuant to Article 65 of the Statute of the Court, to render an advisory opinion,

Recalling also the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024 on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[77]

Reaffirming in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, that the Palestinian people is entitled to self-determination in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and that Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, living side by side, in peace and security with Israel, within secure and internationally recognized borders,

Recalling that the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, found that Israel remains bound to comply with its obligation to respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination as well as its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law and that it is for all States, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end,

Recalling also its resolution ES-10/24 adopted on 18 September 2024, following the advisory opinion issued by the Court on 19 July 2024,

Stressing the importance of upholding multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in the multilateral system,

Expressing grave concern about plans and measures, including legislation adopted, by Israel to interfere with or obstruct the presence and operations of the United Nations and United Nations entities and organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as mandated by the General Assembly, recalling the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, and other applicable principles and rules of international law, inter alia reflected in the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel[78] and the relevant United Nations resolutions, and reiterating the need for the United Nations and United Nations organizations to fully implement their mandates in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, without interference,

Taking note of the press statement of 30 October 2024 of the members of the Security Council on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, in which they expressed their grave concern over legislation adopted by the Knesset and demanded that all parties enable the Agency to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, underscored that the Agency remains the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, and affirmed that no organization can replace or substitute the Agency’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance,

Considering that any action taken to impede the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance to the civilian population leads, in addition to the ongoing unacceptable and widespread loss of life and suffering, to further displacement of population,

Recalling that the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, found that the policies and practices of Israel are contrary to the prohibition of forcible transfer of the protected population under the first paragraph of article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[79]

Recalling also the obligation to refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population,

Expressing deep concern at measures taken by Israel that impede assistance to the Palestinian people, including through measures that affect the presence, activities and immunities of the United Nations, its agencies and bodies, and those of other international organizations, and the representation of third States in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, aimed at providing, in accordance with international law, basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Noting that the provision of such essential assistance to the civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is dependent upon the continued presence of the United Nations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which is the backbone of United Nations humanitarian relief operations, together with the facilitation of its operations and respect for its privileges and immunities, and that this presence, facilitation and respect for privileges and immunities are closely related,

Noting also the utmost urgency of upholding such essential assistance and that, according to the aforementioned letter from the Secretary-General,[80] the cessation of or restriction on the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East would leave Palestine refugees without the essential assistance that they require,

Expressing the view that these developments demand consideration by and guidance from the International Court of Justice, on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency, of certain additional questions to supplement the Court’s advisory opinion of 19 July 2024,

Expresses its grave concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
Demands that Israel comply without delay with all of its legal obligations under international law, including as set out by the International Court of Justice;
Calls upon all parties to comply with their respective legal obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and ongoing efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people, including with regard to the emergency humanitarian needs, particularly in the Gaza Strip;
Expresses its appreciation for the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, recognizes the vital role of the Agency in providing humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people, notably Palestine refugees, and particularly in the Gaza Strip, and endorses the efforts of the Agency to continue operations as far as possible in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, pursuant to resolution 77/123 of 12 December 2022, by which it extended the mandate of the Agency, and any further resolutions extending the mandate, calls upon the Agency to fully implement its high-level action plan for the implementation of the 50 recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality (Colonna Report), and welcomes the commitment affirmed by the Secretary-General and the Agency that they will fully implement the recommendations;
Reiterates its call to all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination;
Calls upon Israel to uphold and comply with its obligations not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including by rescinding any measures that obstruct the provision of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people;
Also calls upon Israel to abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the United Nations, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, at all times, as well as not to impede or impair the work of third States in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
Calls upon all parties to avoid actions that could weaken the critical role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and to support initiatives that contribute to a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and achievement of the two-State solution, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions, and the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, and expresses its firm support for the role of the Secretary-General in this regard;
Decides, in accordance with Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations, to request the International Court of Justice, pursuant to Article 65 of the Statute of the Court, on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency, to render an advisory opinion on the following question, considering the rules and principles of international law, as regards in particular the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, privileges and immunities applicable under international law for international organizations and States, relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, the advisory opinion of the Court of 9 July 2004, and the advisory opinion of the Court of 19 July 2024, in which the Court reaffirmed the duty of an occupying Power to administer occupied territory for the benefit of the local population and affirmed that Israel is not entitled to sovereignty over or to exercise sovereign powers in any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory on account of its occupation:

What are the obligations of Israel, as an occupying Power and as a member of the United Nations, in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, including its agencies and bodies, other international organizations and third States, in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population as well as of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance, for the benefit of the Palestinian civilian population, and in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination?

54th plenary meeting

19 December 2024

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/232: 137-12-22

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua And Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against: Argentina, Czechia, Fiji, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, United States of America

Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Panama, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Togo, Ukraine, Uruguay

XVI. UN Palestinian Rights Committee’s Bureau welcomes historic resolution requesting an ICJ Advisory Opinion, rejects actions that obstruct aid

On 20 December, the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) issued the following press release.

The Bureau of the UN Palestinian Rights Committee warmly welcomes the General Assembly’s adoption of a timely and important resolution to urgently request an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States. The path to peace begins with justice—no more, no less. This groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by Norway stands as a testament to the international community’s unwavering commitment to uphold human rights, international humanitarian law, and the urgent pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people.

By an overwhelming majority vote of 137 to 12, with 22 abstaining, the UN Member States requested the World Court to act urgently, giving the matter top priority. This step follows closely the adoption of resolution ES-10/25, which deplored the measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that impede assistance to the Palestinian people, including the illegitimate legislation adopted by the Knesset against UNRWA and reaffirmed full support for the mandate of the Agency and demanded an end to the obstruction of UNRWA’s vital operations and full respect for Israel’s international legal obligations.

Israel’s relentless and brutal war on the Gaza Strip has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinians killed, the majority children and women, more than 107,000 injured, over 70,000 homes destroyed or damaged, in addition to other vital civilian infrastructure, and approximately 1.9 million forcibly displaced and suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, including starvation, cold and the spread of diseases. Now is the time for decisive action—no more impunity, no more obstruction, no more weaponization of vital humanitarian aid.

Israel must implement, without delay, all of its legal obligations under international law, including the binding provisional measures as set out by the International Court of Justice in the case brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention to prevent further harm to the Palestinian civilian population.

The Committee Bureau reiterates its longstanding call for an immediate ceasefire, unobstructed and immediate provision of humanitarian aid, and a just and peaceful resolution to the question of Palestine that ends the Israeli unlawful occupation, enables the Palestinian people to achieve their inalienable rights, including self-determination and achieve the two-State solution on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions.

XVII. Israel’s assault on the foundations of international law governing protection of civilians must have consequences: UN human rights experts

On 30 December, Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial summary or arbitrary executions; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences issued the following press release.

Israel must face the consequences of its campaign to undermine the legal framework for the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, a group of independent human rights experts* said today, as the full-scale armed assault on Gaza and forced displacement of its population continues unabated.

“As we have repeatedly reminded Israel, international humanitarian law comprises a set of universal and binding rules to protect civilian objects and persons who are not, or are no longer, directly participating in hostilities and limits permissible means and methods of warfare,” the experts said.

“Rather than abide by these rules, Israel has openly defied international law time and again, inflicting maximum suffering on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory and beyond.”

Citing Israel’s most egregious violations, the experts highlighted crimes against humanity including murder, torture, sexual violence, and repeated forced displacement amounting to forcible transfer, war crimes encompassing indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, including objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and educational institutions and cultural heritage, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the targeting of healthcare workers and health facilities, attacks on humanitarian workers, arbitrary restrictions on access to humanitarian aid, and attacks on journalists, collective punishment and perfidy.

“Political and judicial actors must consider the totality of such acts against the entire civilian population under Israeli occupation, who are protected persons and do not constitute military objectives under international law,” the experts said. “Acts aimed at their destruction in whole or in part are genocidal.”

The experts were particularly alarmed over events in northern Gaza, where they said Israel had grievously violated its obligations as an Occupying Power.

“Indiscriminate attacks, including on shelters for displaced persons and the Kamal Adwan Hospital and its vicinity, and the intensification of siege conditions on northern Gaza for the last three months run contrary to Israel’s legal duty to ensure the protection of the civilian population,” the experts said. “We are disturbed that this siege, coupled with expanding evacuation orders, appears intended to permanently displace the local population as a precursor to Gaza’s annexation in further violation of international law.”

“The International Court of Justice has recognised the unlawfulness of and made clear that Israel must unconditionally end its ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and imposed binding provisional measures on Israel to prevent the commission of genocide in Gaza, while Israel’s Prime Minister and former Minister of Defence are wanted by the International Criminal Court,” the experts said. “Nonetheless, Israel continues to face no real consequences, largely due to protection offered by its allies, who have gone so far as to join Israel in delegitimising international institutions and besmirching Special Procedures mandate-holders.”

The experts reiterated the urgency of allowing independent and thorough investigations of serious violations of international law.

“Israel’s continued impunity sends a dangerous message suggesting that parties to other conflicts around the world need not comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” they said. “We cannot afford to lose the force of the multilateral system. Israel and its leaders must be held accountable.”

XVIII. Pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals raises grave concerns – OHCHR report

On 31 December, the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report “Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza”. The associated press release is replicated below.

A report published today by the UN Human Rights Office found that Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians’ access to health and medical care.

The attacks, documented between 12 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, raise serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law, the report states. Medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are not used to commit, outside their humanitarian function, acts harmful to the enemy.

“As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe in fact became a death trap. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.

“This report graphically details the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza, and the extent of killing of patients, staff, and other civilians in these attacks in blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law.”

The appalling destruction wrought by the Israeli military’s attacks on the Kamal Adwan hospital last Friday – leaving the population of North Gaza with almost no access to adequate health care – reflects the pattern of attacks documented in the report. Staff and patients were forced to flee or were taken into custody, with many reports of torture and ill-treatment. The director of the hospital was taken into custody and his fate and whereabouts are unknown.

During the period covered by the report, there were at least 136 strikes on at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities, claiming significant casualties among doctors, nurses, medics and other civilians and causing significant damage, if not complete destruction of civilian infrastructure.

In the exceptional circumstances when medical personnel, ambulances, and hospitals lose their special protection because they fulfil the strict criteria to be considered military objectives, any attack on them must still comply with the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. Failure to respect any of these principles constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law.

Intentionally directing attacks against hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are treated, provided they are not military objectives; intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such, or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, including the launching of an indiscriminate attack resulting in death or injury to civilians; and intentionally launching disproportionate attacks, are also war crimes, the report adds.

Under certain circumstances, the deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities may amount to a form of collective punishment, which would also constitute a war crime.

The report also notes that several of these acts, if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population, further to a State or, in case of non-State actor, organizational policy, may also amount to crimes against humanity.

In most instances, Israel alleges that the hospitals were being improperly used for military purposes by Palestinian armed groups, the report states. However, insufficient information has so far been made available to substantiate these allegations, which have remained vague and broad, and in some cases appear contradicted by publicly available information. If these allegations were verified, this would raise serious concerns that Palestinian armed groups were using the presence of civilians to intentionally shield themselves from attack, which would amount to a war crime.

The impacts of the Israeli military’s operations in and around hospitals, and associated combat, extend far beyond the physical structures, the report finds.

Women, especially pregnant women, have suffered gravely. Many women have given birth with no or minimal pre- and post-natal care, increasing the risk of preventable maternal and child mortality. The UN Human Rights Office received reports that newborns had died because their mothers were unable to attend postnatal check-ups or reach medical facilities to give birth.

The increasingly limited healthcare system prevented many of those who had sustained trauma injuries from receiving timely and possibly life-saving treatment. By the end of April 2024, according to the Ministry of Health of the State of Palestine (Palestinian MOH), 77,704 Palestinians were injured. Many injured reportedly died while waiting to be hospitalized or treated. According to the Palestinian MOH, by the end of June 2024, more than 500 medical professionals had been killed in Gaza since 7 October.

The Israeli military’s first major operation against a hospital involved Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023. It raided the facility a second time in March 2024 leaving it in complete ruin by 1 April. Subsequent to the withdrawal by the Israeli military, three mass graves were reportedly found at the hospital, with at least 80 corpses retrieved, raising serious concerns that crimes under international law may have been committed. Some of these bodies were reportedly found with catheters and cannulas still attached, suggesting they had been patients.

In some of the attacks, the Israeli military likely used both heavy weapons and air dropped munitions with wide area effects, the report finds. It appears that an MK 83 munition was used in the 10 January airstrike in front of Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah, Middle Gaza. Reportedly, at least 12 people were killed, including a journalist and several IDPs, and 35 people were injured. The use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in a densely populated area raises serious concerns of an indiscriminate attack.

The report finds that another feature of such attacks has been the apparent targeting of people inside hospitals, but that in most of these cases it was difficult to determine attribution. The UN Human Rights Office verified multiple cases of people being shot dead at Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya, including a volunteer nurse who was fatally shot in the chest while looking out of a window on 7 December 2023.

“It is essential that there be independent, thorough and transparent investigations of all of these incidents, and full accountability for all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law which have taken place,” said Türk. “All medical workers arbitrarily detained must be immediately released.”

“It must also be a priority for Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure and facilitate access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population, and for future recovery and reconstruction efforts to prioritise the restoration of the medical capacity which has been destroyed over the last 14 months of intense conflict.”

[1] A/78/968.

[2] See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.

[3] A/ES-10/794.

[4] See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

[5] A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.

[6] See S/PV.9609.

[7] A/67/738.

[8] A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

[9] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/79/35).

[10] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/79/13).

[11] A/71/849.

[12] A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

[13] A/79/287.

[14] A/79/259.

[15] Resolution 217 A (III).

[16] Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700.

[17] A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

[18] Resolution 217 A (III).

[19] See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

[20] Ibid.

[21] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.

[22] Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973.

[23] Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512.

[24] Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970–973.

[25] Ibid., No. 973.

[26] See A/78/968.

[27] See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.

[28] A/HRC/53/59 and A/HRC/55/73; see also A/78/545 and A/79/384.

[29] A/HRC/22/63.

[30] A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

[31] S/2003/529, annex.

[32] S/2016/595, annex.

[33] A/79/337, A/79/347 and A/79/363.

[34] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464.

[35] A/ES-10/794.

[36] A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex.

[37] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/66/53), chap. III, sect. A.

[38] A/HRC/17/31, annex.

[39] A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

[40] See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

[41] Ibid.

[42] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.

[43] Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.

[44] A/79/85-E/2024/60.

[45] A/51/889‑S/1997/357, annex.

[46] Resolution 260 A (III), annex.

[47] A/78/968.

[48] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/79/13).

[49] Ibid., p. 7.

[50] A/79/558.

[51] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

[52] Resolution 22 A (I).

[53] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457.

[54] A/79/329.

[55] A/71/849.

[56] Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

[57] Resolution 217 A (III).

[58] Resolution 1514 (XV).

[59] A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.

[60] A/78/968.

[61] A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

[62] S/2003/529, annex.

[63] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

[64] See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

[65] Ibid.

[66] See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.

[67] A/78/968.

[68] A/HRC/22/63.

[69] A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

[70] S/2003/529, annex.

[71] A/79/187-E/2024/68.

[72] See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.

[73] See resolution 70/1.

[74] A/79/558.

[75] Resolution 22 A (I).

[76] A/79/684-S/2024/892.

[77] A/78/968.

[78] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457.

[79] Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973.

[80] A/79/588.

Action by UN System and Intergovernmental Organizations Relevant to the Question of Palestine (December 2024 Monthly Bulletin)

Contents

I. UNRWA Chief highlights the critical role of Agency supporting Palestine refugees amidst humanitarian crises

II. UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies during Cairo humanitarian conference urge international support for humanitarian relief to Gaza and defend UNRWA

III. General Assembly adopts two resolutions to advance two-State solution, sets terms for international conference, requests annual Nakba commemoration

79/81. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine

Annex

Modalities for the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/81: 157-8-7

79/82. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/82: 101-27-42

IV. UN General Assembly adopts resolutions on Palestine refugees and settlements

79/88. Assistance to Palestine refugees

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/88: 171-3-9

79/89. Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/89: 164-6-9

79/91. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/91: 151-9-19

V. UNICEF warns Gaza has become a graveyard for children and families

VI. Secretary-General alerts the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council regarding threat to UNRWA’s operations posed by Knesset laws

VII. General Assembly adopts resolution on assistance to the Palestinian People

79/141. Assistance to the Palestinian people

VIII. General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session adopts two resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting UNRWA

ES-10/26. Demand for ceasefire in Gaza

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION ES-10/26: 158-9-13

ES-10/25. Support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION ES-10/25: 159-9-11

IX. Civilians in Gaza are paying the price of the continuing exchange of fire between the parties – UNSCO

X. Conflict in Gaza devastated children, with over 14,500 reportedly killed, UNICEF warns after attack on Nuseirat camp

XI. General Assembly adopts resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

79/163. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/163: 172-7-8

XII. Israel must stop the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank – OHCHR emphasises

XIII. General Assembly adopts resolution on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources

79/229. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/229: 162-8-10

XIV. Secretary-General reports on implementation of GA resolution 10/24 on ICJ Advisory opinion on illegality of Israeli occupation

VII. Conclusions and observations

XV. General Assembly requests an ICJ Advisory Opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the UN, other international organizations and third states

79/232. Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third states

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 79/232: 137-12-22

XVI. UN Palestinian Rights Committee’s Bureau welcomes historic resolution requesting an ICJ Advisory Opinion, rejects actions that obstruct aid

XVII. Israel’s assault on the foundations of international law governing protection of civilians must have consequences: UN human rights experts

XVIII. Pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals raises grave concerns – OHCHR report

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