The U.N. General Assembly has strongly supported a Palestinian resolution demanding Israel end its occupation of Gaza and the West Bank within a year.
The nonbinding resolution, passed with 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, calls Israel’s presence “unlawful.”
The United States, a close ally of Israel, opposed the resolution, labeling it one-sided for not addressing the influence of Hamas in Gaza or Israel’s right to self-defense.
The resolution also demands Israel withdraw its military and settlers from the occupied territories and pay reparations to Palestinians.
Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour praised the vote as a significant step toward justice, while Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon condemned it as supporting “diplomatic terrorism.”
Although not legally binding, the vote highlights global opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as violence in the region continues to escalate.
The resolution also urges countries to impose sanctions on those maintaining Israel’s presence in the occupied territories. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to submit a report on implementing the resolution within three months.