GENEVA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The United Nations Human Rights Council at the end of its 58th session on Friday adopted two resolutions affirming the illegality of the Israeli occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory and reaffirming the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
The two resolutions were submitted by the State of Palestine under Item Seven of the Council’s agenda relating to the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
34 countries voted in favor of the resolution on the illegality of settlements, while 10 countries abstained and three voted against it as for the resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, 43 countries voted in favor, two opposed and two abstained.
The resolution on the illegality of settlements affirms that the Israeli colonial presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal under international law and constitutes a serious obstacle to achieving a just peace and the two-state solution.
The resolution calls for an immediate and unconditional halt to all settlement activities, the dismantling of existing settlements, the removal of the apartheid wall and the end of racial discrimination policies and forced displacement of Palestinians.
The resolution urges Israel to recognize and adhere to the Fourth Geneva Convention especially Article 49 and it addresses the responsibility of states and companies involved in supporting the settlement enterprise.
The resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination reaffirms the permanent and inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination including the right to establish their independent state and to live in freedom, justice and dignity.
It stresses that the Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem is illegal and must end immediately, as its continuation, along with annexation and colonial policies, undermines the prospects for a political solution.
The resolution calls for the removal of all obstacles to the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine and for respect for the unity of the Palestinian territory, and it demands accountability for the occupation authorities for their policies that lead to fragmentation of the land and demographic change.
In his statement before the Council the Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi stated that the adoption of the two resolutions is an important step in affirming the principles of international law, which are indivisible and non-negotiable.
He explained that the suffering of our people did not begin with the aggression on 7 October 2023, but dates back to the Balfour Declaration and was deepened by the Nakba and the Naksa and has continued for decades through killings, displacement and systematic destruction.
He stressed that respecting and implementing international law is a collective responsibility and praised the positions of the countries that voted in favor of the resolutions and considered that the abstention of some countries reflects the failure of the international system to impose accountability and stop violations of international law and human rights.
He expressed surprise at countries that support the right to self-determination while abstaining or opposing the condemnation of settlements, describing it as a blatant contradiction.
Khraishi warned of the dangerous policies pursued by the extremist Israeli government, foremost among them plans to annex the West Bank, adding that they undermine the Palestinian Authority, prevent Palestinian construction, and portray the establishment of the Palestinian state as a threat to the colonial project.
He spoke about the forced displacement campaigns affecting more than 50,000 Palestinians in the northern West Bank and the destruction of refugee camps such as Nur Shams, Tubas, Jenin, and Tulkarem and the repeated attacks on towns and villages, confirming that these crimes aim to empty the land of its people.
