{"id":295880,"date":"2024-05-10T14:18:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T18:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=295880"},"modified":"2024-05-14T17:24:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T21:24:10","slug":"general-assembly-overwhelmingly-backs-membership-of-palestine-10may24","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/general-assembly-overwhelmingly-backs-membership-of-palestine-10may24\/","title":{"rendered":"At Emergency Special Session, General Assembly Overwhelmingly Backs Membership of Palestine to Â鶹APP, Urges Security Council Support Bid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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10 May 2024<\/div>\n
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TENTH EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION,<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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49TH & 50TH MEETINGS (AM & PM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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GA\/12599<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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During its resumed tenth emergency special session, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that \u2014 as of 10\u00a0September\u00a02024 \u2014 upgrades Palestine\u2019s rights at the Â鶹APP as an observer State, urging the Security Council to favourably consider its full membership.<\/p>\n

The Assembly adopted the resolution titled \u201cAdmission of new Members to the Â鶹APP\u201d (document\u00a0A\/ES-10\/L.30\/Rev.1<\/a><\/strong><\/em>) by a recorded vote of 143 in favour to 9 against (Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States), with 25 abstentions.\u00a0By its terms, it determined that the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the Â鶹APP in accordance with Article\u00a04 of the Charter of the Â鶹APP and should, therefore, be admitted to membership in the Organization.<\/p>\n

By other terms, the additional rights and privileges of participation of the State of Palestine shall be given effect through the following modalities as of the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, including the right to be seated among Member States in alphabetical order; make statements on behalf of a group; introduce, submit and co-sponsor proposals and amendments; raise procedural motions, including points of order and requests to put proposals to the vote; be elected as officers in the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly; and fully and effectively participate in UN and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, under the auspices of other organs of the Â鶹APP.\u00a0 However, the State of Palestine does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to Â鶹APP organs.<\/p>\n

Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago<\/strong>), President of the General Assembly\u2019s seventy-eighth session, said that, for almost the entire lifespan of the Â鶹APP, peace in the Middle East, and for the people of Palestine in particular, has remained elusive.\u00a0 Today, this untenable situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming speed \u2014 bringing countless innocent victims into its deadly fold and pushing the region further to the brink of full-scale catastrophe.\u00a0 While numerous diplomatic efforts and UN resolutions have been deployed, none have yet quelled the current cycle of death and destruction.\u00a0\u201cYet, this is not a moment for the international community to falter or to look away,\u201d he stressed, adding that \u201cthe horrendous events of the last seven months have only hastened the urgency of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peaceful solution to the situation in the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs today\u2019s Â鶹APP, we cannot lose sight of the history we inherit \u2014 or the bold proposition that brought our Organization into being:\u00a0 Peace for all,\u201d he declared.\u00a0 The only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East is through the two-State solution \u2014 with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, in line with international law, the Charter of the Â鶹APP and relevant UN resolutions.\u00a0 Most immediately, he urged the parties to this conflict \u2014 with the support of those with leverage \u2014 \u201cto do their utmost to secure an agreement of ceasefire that will end the suffering, end the bloodshed, free all hostages, protect innocent civilians and ensure immediate, unhindered access to humanitarian aid, without conditions, for all who are in dire need\u201d.\u00a0 While \u201cwe have lost too much time,\u201d \u201cno problem of human relations is insoluble,\u201d he said, echoing the words of diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche, urging all Member States \u201cto seize the opportunity before us today \u2014 to unify our purpose and our actions\u201d to help bring lasting peace, to save lives and to end violence.<\/p>\n

During the day-long discussion, speakers were near-unanimous in demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and warning against the catastrophic consequences of Israel\u2019s assault on Rafah, where more than 1.5\u00a0million have congregated.\u00a0 Many underscored that while the adopted resolution represents the first step towards fulfilling the international community\u2019s obligations to Palestine, ensuring its full UN membership is imperative.<\/p>\n

Opening<\/u><\/h3>\n

DENNIS FRANCIS (Trinidad and Tobago<\/strong>), President of the General Assembly\u2019s seventy-eighth session, said that, for almost the entire lifespan of the Â鶹APP, peace in the Middle East, and for the people of Palestine in particular, has remained elusive.\u00a0 Today, this untenable situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming speed \u2014 bringing countless innocent victims into its deadly fold and pushing the region further to the brink of full-scale catastrophe. \u00a0While numerous diplomatic efforts and UN resolutions have been deployed, none have yet quelled the current cycle of death and destruction. \u00a0\u201cYet, this is not a moment for the international community to falter or to look away,\u201d he stressed, adding that \u201cthe horrendous events of the last seven months have only hastened the urgency of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peaceful solution to the situation in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs today\u2019s Â鶹APP, we cannot lose sight of the history we inherit \u2014 or the bold proposition that brought our Organization into being:\u00a0 Peace for all,\u201d he declared. \u00a0The only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East is through the two-State solution \u2014 with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, in line with international law, the Charter of the Â鶹APP and relevant UN resolutions. \u00a0Most immediately, he urged the parties to this conflict \u2014 with the support of those with leverage \u2014 \u201cto do their utmost to secure an agreement of ceasefire that will end the suffering, end the bloodshed, free all hostages, protect innocent civilians and ensure immediate, unhindered access to humanitarian aid, without conditions, for all who are in dire need\u201d.\u00a0 While \u201cwe have lost too much time,\u201d \u201cno problem of human relations is insoluble\u201d, he said, echoing the words of diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche, urging all Member States \u201cto seize the opportunity before us today \u2014 to unify our purpose and our actions\u201d to help bring lasting peace, to save lives and to end violence.<\/p>\n

Statements<\/u><\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/u><\/strong>, speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Arab Group<\/u><\/strong>, introduced the draft resolution Admission of new Members to the Â鶹APP (document\u00a0A\/ES-10\/L.30\/Rev.1<\/a><\/em>), which recommends that the Security Council reconsider Palestine\u2019s application for full membership in the Â鶹APP, following the United States delegation\u2019s veto against a Security Council resolution, submitted by Algeria on behalf of the Arab Group in April. \u00a0\u201cBy voting in favour of today\u2019s draft resolution, you will demonstrate that the international community refuses to settle for anything less than upholding the legitimate rights of peoples and rejecting double standards,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cThis is the protective shield for our countries in the face of current conflicts and crises.\u201d \u00a0He called the draft resolution \u201cunambiguous\u201d. \u00a0It recommends the Council reconsider and support Palestine\u2019s request, considering the Assembly\u2019s recognition of Palestine\u2019s eligibility, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated 28\u00a0May\u00a01948 and in accordance with Article\u00a0IV of the Charter of the Â鶹APP.<\/p>\n

Yet this resolution alone does not do justice to the State of Palestine, as it only grants additional rights, meaning that Palestine will remain an observer State without the right to vote in the Assembly or put forward its candidature for Â鶹APP organs. \u00a0Therefore, he called upon the Council to respond to the General Assembly by issuing a positive recommendation regarding the State of Palestine\u2019s membership. \u00a0This will let the Assembly decide on Palestine\u2019s admission to the Â鶹APP. \u00a0The draft resolution also affirms the Palestinian people\u2019s inalienable right to self-determination, including their right to establish an independent and sovereign State. \u00a0It also calls for renewed international efforts to end the Israeli occupation began in 1967, and to reach a just, lasting and peaceful settlement for the Palestinian question. \u00a0Voting against this resolution would be an abandonment of moral and legal responsibilities towards the Palestinian cause. \u00a0\u201cIt may also be interpreted as a green light for Israel to continue its violations, which undermine the two-State solution,\u201d he said, asking the Assembly President to suspend the debate to act on the draft at 11\u00a0a.m.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u><\/strong> said \u201cI stand before you as more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, 80,000 have been maimed, 2\u00a0million have been displaced and everything has been destroyed.\u201d\u00a0 Palestinians in Gaza are hunted by bombs and bullets in an ever-narrowing space, famine is setting in and, instead of opening crossings, Israel has closed them.\u00a0\u201cAt the time where the world was calling to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid and calling for a ceasefire, Israel imposed a drought,\u201d he emphasized, adding: \u201cIts plan has not changed \u2014 destroy and displace.\u201d\u00a0 Recalling that he \u201chas stood hundreds of times before at this podium\u201d \u2014 often in tragic circumstances \u2014 he underscored that he has never done so ahead of a more significant vote than the one about to take place \u2014 \u201ca historic one\u201d.\u00a0He stressed that, while Palestinians did not write the Charter of the Â鶹APP \u2014 nor enact international law \u2014 \u201cwe just demanded to see them applied to us \u2014 and have been, until now, denied their protection\u201d.<\/p>\n

Stating that occupation, colonialism, death and destruction are not Palestinians\u2019 fate \u2014 they are imposed \u2014 he underscored: \u201cBut freedom is our sole destiny.\u201d\u00a0 Israel has made clear that it wants to destroy Palestinian Statehood, and he questioned what it means to support a two-State solution if one allows for the destruction of the Palestinian State.\u00a0 Palestine has been \u2014 for generations \u2014 \u201cthe ultimate test for humanity\u2019s ability to live up to its promises\u201d, he stressed, calling on those who invoked the Charter during negotiations to abide by Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination, which is guaranteed by that document.\u00a0 Voting \u201cyes\u201d today is a vote for Palestinian existence \u2014 it is not against any State, but it is against attempts to deprive Palestinians of a State.\u00a0 He added: \u201cIn simple words, voting yes is the right thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that while Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated this week, \u201cthis shameless body has chosen to reward the modern-day Nazis with rights and privileges\u201d, he said.\u00a0 Today\u2019s destructive vote will only open the doors of the Â鶹APP to the terrorists-supporting Palestinian Authority, which does not even have control of its own territory. \u00a0Hamas controls Gaza and has also taken over Palestinian neighbourhoods in the West Bank.\u00a0 The group is predicted to win a Palestinian election.\u00a0 \u201cYou are about to grant privileges and rights to the future terror State of Hamas,\u201d he said. \u00a0In the years to come, the Assembly will have to explain how \u2014 in opposition to all morality and the Charter of the Â鶹APP \u2014 it supported mass murderers \u2014 \u201cthe Hitler of our time\u201d. \u00a0If Hamas rises to power, the Palestinian representative who just spoke here will be recalled, and the UN will have a representative of Hamas sit in this Hall.\u00a0\u201cToday another travesty is being committed by the Assembly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to the Charter of the Â鶹APP, its membership can be granted to all \u201cpeace-loving States\u201d, he recalled, adding: \u00a0The admission of any such State to membership is decided by the Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. \u00a0\u201cWith today\u2019s vote, you\u2019re totally bypassing the Security Council in violation of the Charter,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The Palestinians are the exact opposite of peace-loving.\u00a0 They have only tried to destroy Israel.\u00a0 The Palestinians indoctrinate their children to murder Israelis and commit terrorism.\u00a0 When Israel defends itself, the Palestinian representative comes here shedding his crocodile tears.\u00a0When it comes to the lives of Israelis and Jews, the Charter \u201cmeans nothing to you\u201d, he deplored.\u00a0 \u201cI will hold up a mirror \u2014 this is your mirror so you can see exactly what you are inflicting upon the UN Charter with this destructive vote,\u201d he said, and shredded a few pages of a UN Charter booklet before leaving the podium.<\/p>\n

Action and Explanation of Vote<\/u><\/h3>\n

The representative of the\u00a0Russian Federation<\/u><\/strong>, speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that seven months ago, another escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began. \u00a0Over this time, more than 34,000 people have died in Gaza, mostly women and children, and another 78,000 civilians have been injured.\u00a0 \u201cThis monstrously tragic statistic has nothing comparable to it in modern history,\u201d he stressed, adding that if Israel goes ahead with its plan to assault Rafah, where more than 1.5\u00a0million have congregated, the consequences will be catastrophic.\u00a0 The tragic situation on the ground reaffirms the position of the vast majority of the international community about the need for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

Against this backdrop, he emphasized that Palestine\u2019s full-fledged UN membership would provide an equal negotiating position with Israel, which received this status more than 75 years ago. \u00a0On 18\u00a0April, the whole world bore witness to yet another veto by the United States, blocking the Palestinian application for UN membership.\u00a0The spike in violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict shows what tragic consequences can arise from attempts to monopolize the mediation efforts of one country that depicts itself as the world\u2019s police, he cautioned. \u00a0Today\u2019s resolution \u201cis far from standard\u201d, he observed, noting that many of its elements are being considered for the first time. \u00a0However, they pertain to providing future rights to Palestine, he said, noting that his delegation will vote in favour.<\/p>\n

Speaking before the vote, the representative of\u00a0Pakistan<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said the right of self-determination given to the Palestinian people under the Charter has been trampled on for more than 70 years. \u00a0The Assembly is being asked to respond appropriately to this injustice and to take a historic step today. \u00a0He noted the Assembly\u2019s 1947 vote that partitioned Palestine. \u00a0Yet, only Israel became a member of the Â鶹APP and the Palestinian people have been denied their rights. \u00a0The Assembly can redress this historic injustice by admitting Palestine as a full member. \u00a0This attempt was blocked in 2011 and again by one member through the veto\u2019s use in April. \u00a0Palestine is qualified for membership. \u00a0This resolution also reflects efforts to revive the peace process.<\/p>\n

The Assembly then adopted the resolution by a recorded vote of 143 in favour to 9 against (Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States), with 25 abstentions.<\/p>\n

Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, the representative of Iran<\/strong> expressed support for the Assembly\u2019s decision today, which represents a \u201cmodest, yet crucial step\u201d towards fulfilling the international community\u2019s obligations to Palestinians.\u00a0 Palestine has demonstrated its commitment to peace and its ability to fulfil the obligations contained the Charter of the Â鶹APP \u2014 consequently, it deserves full membership in the Organization.\u00a0 He stressed, however, that the Israeli regime\u2019s actions render it \u201cineligible as a peace-loving entity capable of upholding\u201d such obligations.\u00a0It consistently violates international law, refused to comply with legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice and persists in massacres, war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.\u00a0 Adding that \u201ctoday\u2019s vote shows how the United States is isolated in its unconditional support of the Israeli regime\u201d, he expressed hope that the Security Council will reconsider its stance regarding Palestine\u2019s request for full UN membership.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0underscored that sustainable peace in the region can be achieved only through a two-State solution, with Israel\u2019s security guaranteed, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in freedom and dignity.\u00a0 \u201cUnilateral measures at the UN and on the ground will not advance this goal,\u201d he asserted, adding that \u201cthis resolution is no exception\u201d.\u00a0 However, he emphasized, \u201cour vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian Statehood;\u201d instead, it is an acknowledgment that Statehood will come only through a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties.<\/p>\n

He noted his country\u2019s commitment to intensifying its engagement with the Palestinians and the rest of the region to advance a political settlement that will create a path to Palestinian Statehood and subsequent UN membership.\u00a0 This resolution does not resolve the concerns about the Palestinian membership application raised in the Security Council through the Admissions Committee\u2019s process in April.\u00a0 Additionally, the draft resolution does not alter the status of the Palestinians as a non-member State observer mission.\u00a0 \u201cEven this unproductive text makes that explicit,\u201d he added.\u00a0 As a result of this vote, the Palestinian non-member State observer mission has not gained the right to vote in the General Assembly or be elected as a member of the Security Council, and \u201cit does not have the same standing as a Member State\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0France<\/u><\/strong>, noting that his delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution, recalled that it also voted in favour of the text put forward in the Security Council by Algeria on this matter.\u00a0The two-State solution is the only way to meet both Israel\u2019s security needs and Palestine\u2019s legitimate aspirations for Statehood, and this thinking is behind the resolution that France will present to the Security Council.\u00a0 In that vein, he called on Council members to support both that text and \u201ca view to peace\u201d.\u00a0He also expressed opposition to the operation that has started in Rafah, which risks further victims and displacement \u201cat a time where nowhere can be safe in Gaza\u201d.\u00a0 It also risks disrupting the delivery of aid and, in that context, he condemned Hamas\u2019 attack on the Kerem Shalom border crossing and called on all parties to \u201cdo everything they can\u201d to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said her delegation remains firmly committed to a two-State solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.\u00a0 As stated in the Council in April, her delegation is abstaining from this resolution because it believes the first step to achieving this goal is resolving the immediate crisis in Gaza and securing a deal that gets the hostages out and allows for a pause in the fighting in Gaza. \u00a0Then this pause must be turned into a sustainable permanent ceasefire. \u00a0Her delegation remains deeply concerned about the prospect about a major operation in Rafah.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Tunisia<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that his delegation supported the draft resolution, as Palestine meets all requirements for UN full membership.\u00a0 The text garnered support from more than two thirds of Member States in a clear indication of the need to ensure the inalienable and legitimate rights of Palestine to end the occupation and crimes against them.\u00a0 He requested the Security Council to reconsider Palestine\u2019s full UN membership favourably.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Syria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>observed that Israel\u2019s crimes in Gaza have led to the death of 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.\u00a0\u201cThe pain and suffering of the Palestinian people have been met with widespread international solidarity and accompanied by a strong demand to put an end to the genocide perpetrated by Israel,\u201d he said.\u00a0Syria voted in favour of the resolution, he said, adding that granting Palestine full UN membership is an entrenchment of the principles of international law. \u00a0Attempts by the United States and its allies to stop the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State on Palestinian soil will only contribute to prolonging the lack of security and stability that was created by the Israeli occupation of the lands of several Arab States in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. \u00a0Condemning \u201cthe barbaric attack\u201d that continues against the Palestinian people and the accompanying and repeated attack on the Syrian people, he demanded an end to this aggression and warned against the danger of attacking Rafah \u2014 \u201cthe last resort of the people of Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Hungary<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that her delegation\u2019s position today was guided by a \u201cwish to preserve legal clarity and diligent processes\u201d within the Â鶹APP regarding both admission and participation in the Assembly\u2019s work.\u00a0 At present, the current resolution is not conducive to easing the situation and finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Middle East, she stated, condemning the 7\u00a0October terrorist attack by Hamas that ignited the current war in Gaza and calling for the immediate, unconditional release of the remaining hostages.\u00a0 Also noting that Article\u00a0IV of the Charter lays out a clear process that starts with a positive recommendation from the Security Council, she said that \u2014 in the absence of such a recommendation \u2014 the Assembly is not in a position to make the determination present in operative paragraph\u00a01 of the present text.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Papua New Guinea<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0expressed concern about the serious ongoing peace and security challenges of both Palestine and Israel and their wider implications for the Middle East region and beyond. \u00a0He called for the unconditional release of the Hamas-held hostages and encouraged direct negotiations among all relevant stakeholders towards a lasting solution. \u00a0He said that Papua New Guinea voted against the resolution as \u201cany right and privileges to be granted to parties seeking UN membership and their obligations arising from such undertaking must be accorded in a manner that is fully compliant with the Charter of the Â鶹APP\u201d. \u00a0He also disassociated himself from the statement to be delivered by the Non-Aligned Movement as elements therein are inconsistent with his country\u2019s national position.<\/p>\n

Continuation of Statements<\/u><\/h3>\n

The representative of\u00a0Mauritania<\/u><\/strong>, speaking for the\u00a0Organisation of Islamic Cooperation<\/u>\u00a0(OIC)<\/strong>, pointed out that the Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire during Ramadan has \u201cremained largely unimplemented\u201d and recalled that the Council resolution calling for the granting of membership to the State of Palestine was defeated by veto.\u00a0\u201cNotwithstanding the foregoing gloomy picture\u201d, he welcomed UN efforts to provide relief and humanitarian assistance to besieged Palestinians in Gaza.\u00a0 In that context, he commended the support provided by the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and said that the latest report by the independent review panel \u201chas put paid to the campaigns of calumny\u201d launched by Israeli authorities against the Agency.\u00a0\u201cEqually commendable\u201d, he said, \u201cis the overwhelming support of more than 140 UN Member States for the admission of the State of Palestine\u201d as a full member of the Organization.<\/p>\n

He went on to stress that, given the Council stalemate, the General Assembly is better placed to sustain momentum for the peace process in the Middle East.\u00a0 He therefore called on all UN members to support the adoption of practical measures to exert maximum pressure on Israeli authorities to \u201ccomply with the international consensus on the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people\u201d.\u00a0 He also called on Member States to support the convening of an international peace conference to chart a path towards a comprehensive, expeditious and durable resolution of the Palestinian peace process.\u00a0 Additionally, he urged Member States to continue to demand the immediate implementation of the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, and requested the Secretary-General to include the \u201cIsraeli occupation army\u201d in the appendix to the Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict for parties that commit grave violations against children.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Venezuela<\/u><\/strong>, speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the Â鶹APP<\/u><\/strong>, said that some have recently claimed it is \u201cpremature\u201d to admit the State of Palestine as a full Member State of the Organization. \u00a0He asked these countries, which are the main obstacle for peace and stability in Palestine and the Middle East as a whole, how it could be premature if the State of Palestine submitted its application for membership more than 12 years ago. \u00a0He asked how it could be premature to advance the legitimate national aspirations, which have been delayed for 75 years, of the Palestinian people?<\/p>\n

The international community cannot continue to perpetuate this matter and political will must be translated into concrete actions and decisions that will end one of the most painful conflicts of contemporary times. \u00a0\u201cReturning to the previous status quo is not an option,\u201d he said. \u00a0The situation on the ground is beyond dire and a ceasefire that would allow for full, unhindered and safe humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip must be reached. \u00a0A political platform must be established to liberate the Palestinian people from Israel\u2019s colonial oppression: \u00a0the admission of the State of Palestine \u2014 today recognized by 144 nations \u2014 as a full Member State of the Â鶹APP. \u00a0He reiterated the Group\u2019s firm commitment to the just cause of Palestine and urges that the question of the admission of the State of Palestine as a full Member State of the Â鶹APP be urgently redressed.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Uganda<\/u><\/strong>, speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Non-Aligned Movement<\/u><\/strong>, said that Israel\u2019s military actions in Gaza have led to mass killings and forced displacements of two thirds of the Palestinian population there. \u00a0The conflict has also become a danger to humanitarian workers, medical personnel and journalists.\u00a0 He deplored the punitive and inhumane siege imposed by Israel on Gaza, depriving the Palestinian civilian population of basic needs, including access to food, water, medicines and fuel, causing widespread hunger, diseases and the onset of famine and epidemics. \u00a0Warning against the catastrophic ramifications of an Israeli invasion of Rafah \u2014 the refuge of over 1.4\u00a0million Palestinians \u2014 he said \u201cit will result in yet another massacre against 2.3\u00a0million Palestinians who are starving due to the Israeli siege in Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n

Further, he stated, \u201can independent State of Palestine will restore the dignity of the people of Palestine as a full Member State of the Â鶹APP, with sovereign rights, privileges and obligations, alongside all other nations in the international community.\u201d\u00a0 Reaffirming the continued indispensability of UNRWA in alleviating the plight of the Palestinians, he urged the international community to provide the Agency with sufficient and predictable funding.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Egypt<\/u><\/strong>, thanking \u201call countries who stood by what is right today\u201d, noted the results of a vote where all countries held equal footing without the right to a veto.\u00a0 Nevertheless, he said that the crimes committed by the \u201crogue Israeli war machine\u201d against Palestinians \u2014 including mass graves that will \u201clead, without a doubt, to an angry Arab generation\u201d \u2014 have led to a growing sense that there would not have been so many civilian casualties \u201cif those victims were from the aggressor\u2019s side \u2014 or any other Western countries\u201d.\u00a0 Calling on those present to agree that ending this brutal war and preventing crimes against humanity is possible \u2014 \u201cand not difficult, as some say\u201d \u2014 he underscored that the tools available must be used to ensure the supremacy of international law.\u00a0 Underscoring that Palestinians\u2019 rights to Statehood and full UN membership are inalienable, he called on all Member States to adopt a resolution that grants such membership as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0China<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that generations of Palestinians have lost their homes and lived in displacement under occupation, adding: \u201cIt is a wound of the world that is constantly ripped open and bleeding.\u201d\u00a0 Against this backdrop, it is the joint responsibility of the international community to support and advance the process of independent Palestinian Statehood and provide strong support for the implementation of a two-State solution and a lasting peace in the Middle East.\u00a0 However, \u201cPalestine\u2019s application for full UN Membership was mercilessly vetoed by the United States,\u201d he recalled, noting Washington, D.C.\u2019s repeated use of the veto in \u201can unjustifiable attempt\u201d to obstruct the international community\u2019s effort to correct the historical injustice imposed on the Palestinian people.\u00a0 Today, the Assembly\u2019s emergency special session adopted \u2014 by an overwhelming majority \u2014 a resolution to reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to an independent State, and determined its qualification for UN membership.\u00a0 \u201cThis historic resolution reflects the will of the international community,\u201d he stated, urging Israel to stop collective punishment of the Gaza population.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Qatar<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that today\u2019s adoption is an important victory for Palestine, which provides the Security Council with another opportunity to take a unified position in recommending its admission.\u00a0 Admitting Palestine as a full UN member is a \u201cprimary step\u201d towards reaching a two-State solution, she stressed.\u00a0 However, despite the importance of what was achieved today, Israel\u2019s aggression continues in Gaza in clear defiance of international law.\u00a0 Condemning the offensive against Rafah, she called on the international community to protect civilians and warned that \u201cdisplacing civilians from their last resort\u201d is a grave violation of international law that will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip.\u00a0 For its part, Qatar will continue its mediation efforts alongside Egypt and the United States, and she expressed hope that an immediate ceasefire will be reached, that all prisoners and detainees will be freed, that more humanitarian aid will be delivered and that civilians will be protected.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Saudi Arabia<\/u><\/strong>, associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, OIC and the Arab Group, deplored that the Council was unable to adopt the resolution granting Palestine full UN membership and underscored that \u201cthe world can no longer ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people\u201d. \u00a0Israel \u2014 convinced that it can enjoy immunity \u2014 has perpetrated all sorts of crimes against the Palestinian people, he observed, adding that over the past seven months alone, its barbaric practices cost the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians \u2014 through bombings and the use of famine. \u00a0\u201cNow we are seeing the same practices in Rafah\u201d \u2014 the last refuge of the Palestinian people, a town that has become densely populated due to forced displacement of the Palestinian people. \u00a0The resolution adopted today by a vast majority reflects the international community\u2019s conviction of the rights of the Palestinian people, he asserted.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Brazil<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>underscored that the Assembly \u2014 the main UN organ entrusted with authority to take final decisions on membership \u2014 must be allowed to exercise its power under the Charter.\u00a0 \u201cA majority of over two thirds enabled today\u2019s determination,\u201d he observed \u2014 \u201cthat is the same qualified majority that will manifest itself when the time comes to admit Palestine as a UN member\u201d.\u00a0 The Assembly\u2019s request towards that end enjoys more than just moral authority and political legitimacy, as an opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 1948 held that no Member State should be entitled to withhold consent to membership based on political considerations that are not included among the criteria set out in Article\u00a04 of the Charter \u2014 \u201cwhich the Assembly today has determined that Palestine unequivocally fulfils\u201d, he said.\u00a0 He added:\u00a0 \u201cThe resolution adopted today should not add to the pile of documents that point to a solution, but do little to get us there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u><\/strong>, associating himself with the Arab Group, OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement, said that Israel has been committing the worst massacres in Gaza, claiming the lives of 35,000 people.\u00a0 The overwhelming majority of UN Member States have voted in favour of the resolution, he observed, stating: \u00a0\u201cIt is a clear message to Israel that no matter how much it tries, no matter how much it destroys, kills, oppresses and persists in its arrogance, injustice and aggression against the Palestinian people, it will not extinguish the fire of justice.\u201d\u00a0 The international community must act now to stop Israel from invading Rafah, he asserted, stressing that \u201cthe plight of the Palestinian people is a moral issue faced by the whole world\u201d. \u00a0Further, he emphasized that Israel must stop preventing humanitarian aid from entering Rafah and cease any attacks on UNRWA staff who are playing an indispensable role in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>observed that, as the Assembly meets, an Israeli military operation is imminent in Rafah \u2014 despite the international community\u2019s concern over the catastrophic consequences of such an action.\u00a0 Drawing a parallel between this potential displacement and that which occurred during the Nakba, she said:\u00a0 \u201cThis wretched truth implies that we have again failed the people of Palestine.\u201d\u00a0She recalled that the International Court of Justice, following a claim by her country, ordered Israel to prevent and punish genocide and incitement thereto, and to enable the immediate, effective provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance to those besieged in Gaza.\u00a0 However, Israel has not complied; instead, it has escalated its genocidal acts against the Palestinian people.\u00a0 Stressing that conferring the international legitimacy, leverage and bargaining power inherent in recognized Statehood is the first step towards offering both sides a better future, she added:\u00a0 \u201cIt is necessary to restore a balance that has, in recent years, tipped overwhelmingly in favour of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

10 May 2024 TENTH EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION, 49TH & 50TH MEETINGS (AM & PM) GA\/12599 During its resumed tenth emergency special session, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that \u2014 as of 10\u00a0September\u00a02024 \u2014 upgrades Palestine\u2019s rights at the Â鶹APP as an observer State, urging the Security Council to favourably consider its full membership. […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[723,759,810,834,876,888,897,909,5287,1035,1593,6971,1062,1074,1098,1128,6632,1179,1191,1197,2321,2553,1218],"document-category":[2625,1329],"document-source":[6169],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,1769,2005,1741,1749,1629,1745],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-295880","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-brazil","country-china","country-egypt","country-france","country-hungary","country-iran-islamic-republic-of","country-israel","country-jordan","country-mauritania","country-pakistan","country-palestine-state-of","country-papua-new-guinea","country-qatar","country-russian-federation","country-saudi-arabia","country-south-africa","country-trinidad-and-tobago","country-tunisia","country-uganda","country-united-arab-emirates","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","country-venezuela","document-category-meeting-record","document-category-press-release","document-source-united-nations-department-of-global-communications","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-palestines-application-for-un-membership","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/295880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/295880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":295881,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/295880\/revisions\/295881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=295880"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=295880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}