The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year, a decision that Palestine hailed as “historic.”

The nonbinding resolution, passed by a vote of 124-12 with 43 abstentions, demands Israel end its “unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months and pay reparations for damages incurred during the occupation.

The resolution also backed an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which had previously declared Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories to be unlawful.

The ICJ stressed that Israel, as an occupying power, is in violation of international humanitarian law due to its settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The UNGA vote occurred as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, where more than 41,250 Palestinians have been killed.

The ICJ had earlier issued rulings urging Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and ensure adequate humanitarian aid reaches the population.

Among the 12 countries opposing the resolution were Israel, the United States, Czechia, Hungary, Argentina, and several Pacific island nations.

The US, which claims to support a two-state solution to the conflict, joined Israel in opposing the resolution.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to comply.

“The international consensus over this resolution renews the hopes of our Palestinian people…to achieve its aspirations of freedom and independence,” Abbas said, emphasizing the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

NGOs Urge UN Member States to Uphold ICJ Opinion and Halt Arms Sales to Israel

Additionally, over 30 NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, and War Child, urged UN Member States to adhere to the ICJ’s advisory opinion, which denounced Israel’s decades-long occupation.

The NGOs highlighted ongoing human rights abuses such as forced displacement, settler violence, and a discriminatory permit regime limiting Palestinians’ access to essential services.

These organizations also called for a halt to arms sales to Israel, which they argue have contributed to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Singapore and Malaysia Vote in Favour of UN Resolution

Ambassador Burhan Gafoor of Singapore expressed support for the UNGA resolution based on respect for international law and the International Court of Justice.

“Singapore has always attached the greatest importance to international law and the principles of the UN Charter. ”

“We voted in favour of this resolution after careful and thorough consideration due to our respect for the International Court of Justice, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations as well as for international law more broadly.”

However, he highlighted several reservations, including concerns over using the ICJ’s advisory jurisdiction to address political disputes and the resolution’s potential to harden positions between Israel and Palestine.

Gafoor emphasised that any solution to the conflict must come from direct negotiations between the two parties and expressed concern over the resolution’s overreaching measures that could hinder the peace process.

Malaysia welcomed the UN’s decision to implement the ICJ ruling, noting that the UN resolution underscores the collective responsibility and legal obligations of all States and international organisations to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and seek justice for the Palestinian people.

“Malaysia urges the international community to implement the Resolution in its entirety and without delay, for the Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination, safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as pursue socioeconomic development.”

“The resolution affirms Malaysia’s position on this long-standing issue,” the statement read.

The ICJ’s July opinion found that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory violated fundamental principles of international law, asserting that no state should recognize or assist Israel’s continued presence in these territories.

Explosions targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon on Tuesday (17 Sept), resulted in at least nine deaths, including an 8-year-old girl, and approximately 2,750 injuries, with 200 being critical.

Most injuries were to the face, hands, or abdomen.

It is reported that eight of the deceased were Hezbollah members.

The group confirmed that at least two of its members were killed, one of whom was the son of a Hezbollah parliament member.

Hezbollah later announced that six additional members had died, though specific details were not provided.

The explosions occurred across multiple regions in Lebanon and affected several Hezbollah members.

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured but sustained only minor injuries and remains under observation in a Beirut hospital.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have accused Israel of orchestrating a sophisticated remote attack.

According to an American official, Israel informed the United States that the operation involved detonating small amounts of explosives concealed within the pagers.

The Israeli military has declined to comment on the attack.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been high, particularly following the 7 October attack by Hamas that intensified the Gaza conflict.

The pagers involved were reportedly procured by Hezbollah following a February directive from its leader to stop using cellphones, which are more easily tracked by Israeli intelligence.

The pagers were acquired from Taiwanese company Gold Apollo but were tampered with before arriving in Lebanon.

Gold Apollo confirmed that its AR-924 pagers were used but stated they were produced and sold by a company called BAC.

The explosive material, embedded next to the battery in each pager, was triggered remotely by a message that appeared to come from Hezbollah’s leadership.

The pagers were programmed to beep for several seconds before detonating.

Hezbollah has accused Israel of carrying out this attack and promised retaliation.

Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions as an “Israeli aggression.”

Hezbollah warned that Israel would face “just punishment” for the attack.

“We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians,” Hezbollah said.

Independent cybersecurity experts have indicated that the explosions were caused by small explosive charges implanted in the pagers.

Mikko Hypponen of WithSecure noted that the size and strength of the explosions suggested modifications to the devices.

“These pagers were likely modified in some way to cause these types of explosions — the size and strength of the explosion indicates it was not just the battery.”

Israeli cybersecurity analyst Keren Elazari described the attack as targeting Hezbollah’s vulnerabilities.

The pager bombings are likely to heighten Hezbollah’s concerns about security and communications as the conflict with Israel continues.

“This attack hit them in their Achilles’ heel because they took out a central means of communication,” Ms Elazari said.

“We have seen these types of devices, pagers, targeted before but not in an attack this sophisticated.”

The ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in numerous casualties and displacement on both sides.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the attack and expressed concern about the escalating violence in an already volatile situation.