UN General Assembly Votes to Demand Israel End Occupation of Palestinian Territories within 12 Months

The United Nations General Assembly has voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year. The resolution was passed by a vote of 124 to 14, with 43 countries abstaining. The vote follows a historic advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice in July, which urged Israel to cease its "unlawful presence" in the occupied territories. The resolution asserts that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination under the UN Charter. The United States, Hungary, Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Fiji, Malawi, Micronesia, and others voted against the resolution. Australia abstained, citing several concerns with the resolution. The resolution is nonbinding, but it is seen as a significant diplomatic move in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.