UN adopts Bangladesh co-sponsored resolution against Israeli occupation of Palestine

The UN General Assembly’s 10th Emergency Special Session endorsed the ICJ advisory judgment declaring Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories illegal.

The resolution was tabled by Palestine and co-sponsored by 53 countries, including Bangladesh, according to a message received today.

The Wednesday vote had 124 countries in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions. The co-sponsor Bangladesh voted yes.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith gave Bangladesh’s national statement in the General Assembly debate.

Muhith called the ICJ advisory opinion historic and urged other member states to follow it.

He also conveyed Bangladesh’s deep worry about Gaza’s abuses and high death toll and asked for an urgent ceasefire under UN Security Council resolution 2728.

He stressed that only the two-state solution, based on the pre-1967 Palestinian state boundary, will bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

The permanent representative also praised the ICJ and ICC for holding illegal occupation and mass atrocity crimes in OPT accountable.

He commended the UN Secretary-General and High Commissioner’s views on Gaza’s dire humanitarian and human rights situation.

The resolution urges Israel to terminate its illegitimate presence in Palestine, the first step to ending its armed campaign in Gaza, following the ICJ ruling.

The resolution also demands for an international mechanism to compensate all damage, loss, and harm caused by Israel’s internationally wrongful activities in the OPT.

It also wants a resolution implementation report from the UN secretary-general.

This resolution further demands accountability for Israel’s atrocity crimes, notably in light of the Fourth Geneva Convention on civilian protection.

After adopting the resolution, the general assembly will organize an international conference on Palestine in one year to find measures to build an independent Palestinian state.

Overall, the resolution is seen as a major step toward a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.