UN Committee Passes Three Resolutions in Support of Palestine
A United Nations committee has adopted three resolutions in favor of Palestine, addressing issues related to the Zionist entity’s settlements and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The Fourth Committee on Special Political and Decolonization Matters approved these resolutions, which highlight the suffering of Palestinians under the Zionist entity’s settlement activities and affirm the vital role of UNRWA in supporting Palestinian refugees.
The resolution on settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, was passed with an overwhelming majority of 152 votes in favor, 9 against, and 19 abstentions. It urges the General Assembly to demand that the Zionist entity, as the occupying power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as emphasized in the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. The resolution calls for the immediate cessation of new settlement activities, the removal of settlers from occupied Palestinian land, and an end to the Zionist entity’s illegal presence in these areas.
The resolution also stresses the responsibility of the occupying power to investigate acts of violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinian civilians.
A second resolution, focused on “Assistance to Palestinian Refugees,” was adopted with 165 votes in favor, 3 against, and 9 abstentions. It reaffirms the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of UNRWA despite growing financial and operational challenges. The resolution calls on donor states to enhance their efforts to meet the agency’s needs, particularly in light of instability and humanitarian crises in the region.
This resolution follows the October 28 decision by the parliament of the Zionist entity to outlaw UNRWA’s operations in the occupied territories, a move widely condemned by the international community.
The third resolution, addressing Palestinian refugee properties and revenues, was approved with 161 votes in favor, 6 against, and 10 abstentions. It mandates the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to take appropriate measures in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to safeguard Palestinian properties and assets. The resolution also calls on the Zionist entity to cooperate fully with the UN in implementing this directive.
Palestinian Permanent Observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the resolutions, describing them as a source of hope for Palestinians. “The global consensus against illegal settlements reaffirms international opposition to the Zionist entity’s colonial practices in occupied Palestine,” Mansour stated. He also highlighted the international community’s rejection of the Zionist entity’s attempts to dismantle UNRWA and deny Palestinian refugees their rights.
The resolutions, while non-binding, come at a time when the Zionist entity continues its military offensive in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has resulted in over 148,000 casualties, including thousands of women and children, alongside widespread destruction and humanitarian crises, marking one of the gravest global tragedies in recent history.
