Adopted Resolution: Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations – General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session (A/RES/ES-10/27)

12 June 2025

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 12 June 2025

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/ES-10/L.34/Rev.1)]

ES-10/27. Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations

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 the Charter, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and underscoring the importance of holding accountable all those responsible for violations of international law,

Strongly deploring the end of the ceasefire and the decision of the Israeli Government, since 2 March 2025, to block access to humanitarian aid, including life-saving supplies, notably food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, for over 2 million people, and expressing its deep alarm over the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, including the severe lack of adequate healthcare services and the extreme state of food insecurity, creating a critical risk of famine, and its grave impact on children, women, elderly persons and other civilians,

Expressing grave concern at the latest and prolonged escalation of violence since the 7 October 2023 attack and the war in the Gaza Strip and the grave deterioration of the situation, including the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,

Condemning all attacks against civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, deploring all attacks against civilian objects, acts of provocation, incitement and destruction, reaffirming its rejection of forced displacement of the civilian population, and recalling that the taking of hostages is prohibited under international law,

Expressing support for the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States of America to immediately restore the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in all its phases, leading to a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of all human remains and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip as well as the start of a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza,

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^[1] 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 the Gaza Strip to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts mentioned in article III of the Convention,

Recalling in particular the determination by the International Court of Justice on 28 March 2024 that “the State of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the spread of famine and starvation … take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation 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 Palestinians throughout Gaza, including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary”, which has remained unheeded to date,

Recalling the 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,^[2] as well as the urgent request of the General Assembly 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 in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Noting that, in accordance with international humanitarian law, 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,

Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations^[3] and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,^[4] Security Council resolution 2730 (2024) of 24 May 2024 and all relevant resolutions concerning the safety and security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, including General Assembly resolution 79/138 of 9 December 2024,

Expressing deep alarm at the number of humanitarian workers killed in the Gaza Strip, including personnel of the United Nations, the majority of them staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,

Reiterating its demand that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their freedom of movement, and the protection of United Nations and humanitarian facilities and other civilian objects,

Expressing grave concern at the escalation of violence and violations of international law in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has witnessed the intensification of forcible displacement, settlement activity, settler violence, unlawful use of force by Israeli forces, arbitrary arrests and the demolition or seizure of Palestinian homes and essential infrastructure,

Recalling that the General Assembly established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations in its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, and acknowledging the essential role that the Agency has played for more than seven decades since its establishment in alleviating the plight of the Palestine refugees by 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,

Emphasizing the imperative of ensuring accountability for all violations of international law in order to end impunity, ensure justice, deter future violations, protect civilians and promote peace,

1. Demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, to be respected by all parties;
2. Recalls its demand for the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups;
3. Demands that the parties fully, unconditionally and without delay implement all the provisions of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024) of 10 June 2024, including an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, the return of the remains of hostages who have been killed, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of the Gaza Strip and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip;
4. Also demands that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, in particular with regard with the conduct of hostilities and the protection of civilians, and stresses the need for accountability for violations by all parties;
5. Strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access, and stresses the obligation not to deprive civilians in the Gaza Strip of objects indispensable to their survival, including by wilfully impeding relief supplies and access;
6. Stresses that an occupying Power is obliged under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all the population in need, and demands the immediate and permanent facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale, including food and medical supplies, to and throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians, as well as fuel, equipment, shelter and access to clean water, in accordance with international humanitarian law, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, in coordination with the United Nations;
7. Demands that the parties fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in relation to persons they detain, including through the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained and the return of all human remains;
8. Recalls its decision, in its resolution 79/232 of 19 December 2024, to request the International Court of Justice, on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency, to render an advisory opinion on 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;
9. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, immediately end the blockade, open all border crossings and ensure that aid reaches the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip immediately and at scale, in line with its obligations under international law and humanitarian principles;
10. Stresses the need for accountability in order to ensure Israel’s respect of international law obligations, and in this regard calls upon all Member States to individually and collectively take all measures necessary, in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, to ensure compliance by Israel with its obligations;
11. Calls upon all Member States scrupulously to respect the privileges and immunities of all officials of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and related organizations and to refrain from any acts that would impede such officials in the performance of their functions, thereby seriously affecting the proper functioning of the Organization;
12. Calls upon all States to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel, in accordance with their obligations under international law;
13. Stresses the obligation, in accordance with international humanitarian law and national laws and regulations, as applicable, to respect and protect medical personnel, as well as humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, in all circumstances;
14. Also stresses the obligation of the parties to armed conflict to respect and protect civilians and to exercise constant care to spare civilian objects, including objects necessary for food production and distribution, and to refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, and to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law;
15. Welcomes and expresses support for the United Nations-Coordinated Plan to Resume Humanitarian Aid Deliveries to Gaza;
16. 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;
17. Underscores that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, 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 (Colonna Report), also welcomes the commission by the Secretary-General of a strategic assessment in order to review the Agency’s impact, implementation of its mandate under present political, financial, security and other constraints and consequences and risks for Palestine refugees, 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;
18. Welcomes the League of Arab States-Organization of Islamic Cooperation recovery and reconstruction plan as the basis to address the horrific humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, calls upon all Member States, the United Nations and international donors to cooperate and provide assistance to ensure the effective implementation of the plan, with a leading role for the Palestinian Authority, and encourages the international community to participate in the international conference that Egypt plans to convene to address recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip;
19. Reiterates its unwavering commitment to the two-State solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian State and where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and security within their secure and internationally recognized borders, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, and in this regard firmly rejects attempts at demographic and territorial change in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as all measures violating the historic status quo of the holy sites of the city, reiterates its unequivocal rejection of actions that aim at forcibly displacing the Palestinian people and at unlawfully seizing Palestinian territory, including any such actions in the Gaza Strip, and demands the immediate and complete cessation of such actions, condemns all plans of individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory, demands an immediate halt to all settlement construction, expansion, land confiscation, home demolitions, forced evictions and settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and calls for immediate and concrete steps to preserve the territorial integrity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and towards unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority;
20. Reaffirms 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 the relevant United Nations resolutions;
21. 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.

60th plenary meeting

12 June 2025

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

        [2]  A/78/968.

        [3]  Resolution 22 A (I).

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