The UN Economic and Social Council adopts two resolutions in favor of Palestine

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, during a meeting in New York yesterday, adopted by an overwhelming majority two resolutions concerning  the “Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” and concerning  the “Situation of the Palestinian women and ways to assist them”.

43 countries voted in favor of the draft resolution, 4 countries (Canada, Israel, Liberia, United States) voted against it while 4 countries (United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, Guatemala, and Solomon Islands) abstained from voting, according to WAFA News Agency.

The resolution calls on the Israeli occupation authority to completely open all the crossings leading to Gaza Strip to ensure humanitarian aid access as well as sustained and regular flow of persons and goods, and to lift all movement restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people.

The resolution affirms the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to benefit from the national natural and economic resources, urging Israel not to exploit or endanger these resources.

The resolution also urges Israel to completely stop all forms of settlement building activities, including the measures aiming at changing the demographic structure and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly Al-Quds and its vicinity in implementation of relevant Security Council Resolutions, including Resolution No. 2334.

The resolution voiced great concern over the Israeli occupation criminal acts against the Palestinians, including journalists, children and women, reiterating the need to protect the Palestinians in accordance with the international humanitarian law and to hold Israel accountable for its crimes as soon as possible.

The Deputy Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations Fidaa Abdel-Hadi Nasser said that millions of people in Palestine including in East Al-Quds are denied their rights by an enduring occupation that has no place in the twenty-first century. The longest foreign occupation in modern history demands that the issue be addressed every year in the Council forum, including a suffocating 15-year blockade on Gaza, which has been referred to as “the world’s largest open-air prison”.

Abdel-Hadi Nasser said the text reflects undeniable facts. She welcomed the solidarity conveyed in the resolution and urged serious efforts to uphold accountability for all human rights violations and war crimes being committed against Palestinians, in contempt of the United Nations and the international community as a whole.

Hamda Mustafa