On Sept. 18, the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution that demands Israel to stop its “unlawful” presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories within 12 months. The voting result ended with 124 nations in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstaining. The UN General Assembly also demanded that the state of Israel stop any new settlements from being built, take out all of the settlers from the occupied territory, and dismantle the parts of the wall they had built inside occupied West Bank. In addition, they demanded that Israel should return any land or “immovable property,” all assets seized since 1967, and any cultural property taken. Another part of the demand was that all displaced Palestinians, since the beginning of the occupation, in 1967, must be allowed to return and repair any damages caused during that time.

This resolution is a continuation of the ICJ declaration in July which stated that Israel’s presence in the West Bank is “unlawful” and that “all States are under an obligation not to recognize” the occupation, including international organizations like the UN. It also mentions that they should “bring an end to [the Israeli] presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible.” UNGA also “strongly deplored the continued and total disregard and breaches” committed by the Government of Israel, saying that these breaches threaten both regional and international peace. Some of the violations mentioned were the transfer of settlers to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the taking of land, “the exploitation of natural resources,” the implementation of Israeli law to the West Bank, the displacement of Palestinians, and the violence of the settlers and forces against the Palestinians.

These aspects would go against the obligation under the UN Charter and international law to respect the sovereignty and “territorial integrity” of nations. They also regarded restrictions placed on Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, including residence permits in East Jerusalem, as restrictions on freedom of movement for Palestinians, and destruction of Palestinian property, making them, again violations of the “Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, an customary international law.”

The consequence that the UN suggested within the text is that Israel “must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful acts, including by making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts.” The resolution also mentioned that Palestinians have rights to self-determination, and that “Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

So, what does this mean for other countries?

The resolution also called upon all states and mentioned that under international law, each state must promote the right of Palestinian people’s self-determination, to not commit any actions that would deprive the Palestinians of this right, and also to ensure that no acts that would violate this right are being committed. They should also not give aid or assistance in maintaining the Israeli presence in the Occupied Territories. One of the bigger demands it is placing on other states is that they should abstain from “treaty relations with Israel” or economic or trade dealings if Israel is claiming to do so on behalf of the Palestinian Occupied Territory, or parts of it. They should also not establish “diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.”

In another section of the report, the Assembly also tells all states that they should ensure that their nationals, companies, and any entities under their jurisdiction also do not give recognition, aid, or assistance to “Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” They should also work towards stopping the “importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements” as well as the “transfer of arms, munitions, and related equipment to Israel, the occupying Power” if there is any reason to suspect that they might be used in the Occupied Territory. Lastly, they should implement sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezes against people who were “engaged in the maintenance of Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including concerning settler violence.”

It is important to note that this resolution is non-binding. The full report can be found here.