Applicability of the 4th Geneva Convention – GA – Draft resolution – Adopted

Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine: draft resolution 

   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 the other occupied Arab territories 

 The General Assembly,

 Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 65/103 of 10 December 2010,

 Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

 Recalling the Regulations annexed to The Hague Convention IV of 1907,¹ the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,² and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol I³ to the four Geneva Conventions,⁴  

 Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories⁵ and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,⁶  

 Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations,

 Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,⁷ and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004,

 Noting in particular the Court’s reply, including that the Fourth Geneva Convention² is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention,

 Recalling 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, held on 15 July 1999, as well as the Declaration adopted by the reconvened Conference on 5 December 2001 and the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration,

 Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, as well as the continuing efforts of the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions in this regard,

 Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law,

 1.  Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,² is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

 2.  Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention;

 3.  Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions⁴ and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,⁷ to continue 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;

 4.  Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, including at its tenth emergency special session and including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention;

 5.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution.

Notes

¹See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915).

² United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

³Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512.

⁴Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973.

⁵See A/66/370.

⁶A/66/356, A/66/362, A/66/364, A/66/373 and A/66/400.

⁷See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. 

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