The Palestinians have circulated a draft resolution at the United Nations, demanding that Israel end its unlawful presence in Gaza and the West Bank within six months. The proposed General Assembly resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, demands Israel’s immediate military withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and calls for the evacuation of all settlers, as well as the dismantling of the separation barrier in the West Bank. 

The resolution calls for reparations for Palestinians impacted by the occupation and the return of displaced individuals to their original homes. It also outlines demands, such as holding Israel accountable for any violations of international law, imposing sanctions on those responsible for sustaining Israel's presence in the territories and urging countries to cease arms exports to Israel if there is suspicion they are being used in the occupied territories.

The Palestinians are seeking a vote on the resolution before world leaders meet for high-level discussions at the UN General Assembly on September 22. While the resolution, if passed, would not be legally binding, it holds symbolic significance and represents global opinion on the matter.  

Unlike the UN Security Council, where vetoes can be used, the General Assembly operates without such a mechanism, giving the proposal a broader platform for consideration.

This follows a July ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal under international law. The ruling also stated that Israel has no right to sovereignty over these areas and condemned Israeli settlement activities, calling for them to stop.

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Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour informed the Security Council last month of his intention to propose a General Assembly resolution in September to formalize the ICJ ruling. "We are exhausted from waiting," he stated. "The time for waiting has ended."

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, condemned the resolution, calling it a “reward for terrorism” and urging its rejection. He claimed that Israel’s focus remains on rescuing hostages and eliminating Hamas.

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The resolution emerges amid ongoing violence. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is now in its 11th month. Gaza's Health Ministry says over 40,900 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military and displaced around 90 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million multiple times. In the West Bank, settler violence and Israeli military raids have escalated, with hundreds of Palestinians suffering casualties.

(With Agency Inputs)