Geneva - Saba:
At the conclusion of its 58th session on Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted two resolutions submitted by the State of Palestine, affirming the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Quds, and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the adoption of the two resolutions came under Item 7 of the Council's agenda, related to the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Thirty-four countries voted in favor of the resolution on the "illegality of settlements," while 10 countries abstained, and three countries voted against.
The resolution on the "Right of the Palestinian People to Self-Determination" received the support of 43 countries, two opposed, and two abstained.
The resolution on the "Illegality of Settlements" affirms that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Quds, and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, are illegal under international law and constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a just peace and the two-state solution.
The resolution demands an immediate and unconditional cessation of all settlement activities, the dismantling of existing settlements, the removal of the apartheid wall, and an end to policies of racial discrimination and forced displacement against Palestinians.
The resolution also calls on Israel to recognize and abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly Article 49. It addresses the responsibility of states and companies involved in supporting settlements, calling for divestment, a boycott of entities operating within settlements, and the imposition of sanctions on settlers involved in violations, including asset freezes and travel bans. It also emphasizes the need to hold perpetrators of settler violence accountable and bring them to justice.
Regarding the resolution "The Right of the Palestinian People to Self-Determination," it reaffirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to establish their independent state and to live in freedom, justice, and dignity.
It emphasizes that the Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Quds, is illegal and must end immediately. Its continuation, along with its annexation and settlement policies, undermines the prospects for a political solution.
The resolution calls for the removal of all obstacles to the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine, respect for the unity of the Palestinian territory, and holds Israel accountable for its policies that lead to the fragmentation of the territory and the alteration of its demographic composition.
The resolution emphasizes that supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is a responsibility that falls on all states and international organizations.
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