{"id":313718,"date":"2025-12-12T10:30:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T15:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=313718"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:30:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:30:18","slug":"general-assembly-meeting-coverage-12dec25","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/general-assembly-meeting-coverage-12dec25\/","title":{"rendered":"General Assembly Adopts Resolution Welcoming International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Israel\u2019s Obligations Related to Occupied Palestinian Territory"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

12 December 2025<\/p>\n

Eightieth Session,
\n61st Meeting (AM)<\/p>\n

By a recorded vote of 139 in favour to 12 against with 19 abstentions, the\u00a0General Assembly today adopted a resolution<\/a> welcoming\u00a0the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel\u2019s obligations in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

Issued on October\u00a022 this year, the opinion is in response to the Assembly request for such an opinion, as expressed in its resolution\u00a079\/232<\/a>\u00a0from December\u00a02024. \u00a0Today\u2019s resolution, \u201cAdvisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory\u201d (document\u00a0A\/80\/L.26<\/a>), demanded that Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the Court.<\/p>\n

These include its obligations as an occupying Power and as a Member of the United Nations, including the general obligation to administer the territory for the benefit of the local population and the obligation to cooperate in good faith with the UN.\u00a0 The text also demanded that Israel immediately allow and facilitate the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance and basic services to the Palestinian civilian population, including relief provided by the United Nations and its entities, in particular the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), other international organizations and third States.<\/p>\n

Introducing that text on behalf of a cross-regional group of States, the representative of Norway said: \u00a0\u201cSadly, recent developments highlight the urgency and relevance of the Court\u2019s clarifications.\u201d\u00a0 She highlighted the recent unauthorized entry of Israeli authorities into the UN Sheikh Jarrah compound held by UNRWA, in occupied East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

Recalling UNRWA\u2019s origins in early initiatives to provide relief following the large-scale displacement of Palestine refugees in 1948, she welcomed the Court\u2019s recognition of the Agency\u2019s indispensable role.\u00a0 The UN \u201ccannot accept impediments that hinder humanitarian access and disrupt planned operations, be they in Palestine or anywhere else\u201d, she stressed.\u00a0 The resolution \u201cis not directed against any State or entity\u201d, it is conceived to protect the most fundamental humanitarian norms, she added.<\/p>\n

Israel and United States: \u00a0Text Is One-Sided, Flawed<\/strong><\/h4>\n

However,\u00a0Israel\u2019s delegate, who called for today\u2019s vote, described it as a \u201cone-sided, deeply flawed\u201d draft resolution, which weaponizes the International Court of Justice and asks Israel to place its trust in Hamas-infiltrated UNWRA. \u00a0Speaking in explanation of vote before vote, he said: \u00a0\u201cIt does not advance peace [and] it does not reflect the reality we see on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that the text mentions the 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 attack on Israel \u2014 the worst attack against Jews committed since the Second World War \u2014 in just 28 words buried across more than 3,000. \u00a0He also spoke of a young man kidnapped from Israel by a Hamas operative who was also an UNRWA employee, with his body paraded around Gaza on a UN vehicle \u2014 the terrorist who murdered him was not met with condemnation but with a \u201cUN pay cheque\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a few bad apples \u2014 the poison goes straight to the core,\u201d he said, and Israel cannot continue to work with such an organization. \u00a0Many other international aid delivery organizations exist, he said, adding:\u00a0\u201cWe are done with UNRWA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along similar lines, the representative of the United States said: \u00a0\u201cUNRWA is a subsidiary of Hamas\u201d, and the idea that any nation could be compelled by the Assembly to work with any organization is an infringement on sovereignty. \u00a0UNRWA will play absolutely no role going forward in Gaza, he said, adding that advisory opinions are not binding, and the Court\u2019s ruling is baseless and \u201cdevoid of judicial restraint\u201d. \u00a0Highlighting \u201cpositive developments\u201d and President Trump’s \u201chistoric leadership\u201d, he said the war in Gaza has ended and aid is flowing there.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the wrong time for this flawed, one-sided resolution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Cuba: \u00a0United States Is Israel\u2019s Accomplice in Genocide Campaign in Gaza<\/strong><\/h4>\n

But Cuba\u2019s representative, who voted in favour of the text, said the United States is Israel\u2019s accomplice in the genocide campaign in Gaza.\u00a0 The contempt of Israel\u2019s Government for international law is obvious but it must comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement, she said, rejecting the manipulation of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war.\u00a0 She also expressed reservations about the contents of preambular paragraph\u00a013, spotlighting the role played by the United States.<\/p>\n

Syria, on Behalf of Arab States Hosting Palestine Refugees: \u00a0Call to Transfer\u00a0UNRWA\u00a0Responsibilities to Host States Undermines Agency\u2019s Mandate<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Speaking on behalf of Arab States hosting Palestine refugees, Syria\u2019s delegate condemned the Israeli occupying forces\u2019 raid last Monday on UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied Jerusalem. \u00a0Highlighting the seizure of its equipment, the cutting off of water and electricity from its facilities, the removal of the UN flag and the raising of the Israeli flag, he said: \u00a0\u201cThis step is aimed at confiscating the headquarters, thereby turning it into a new settlement\u201d.<\/p>\n

Welcoming last week’s Assembly decision to renew UNRWA\u2019s mandate for three additional years, he also expressed dissatisfaction with the call for transfer of UNRWA\u2019s responsibilities to host States, as recommended in Ian Martin\u2019s report. \u00a0[Mr. Martin was appointed by the\u00a0Secretary-General as Head of the Strategic Assessment of UNRWA and his report was published in June\u00a02025.] \u00a0\u201cOur countries shoulder the vast majority of the burden as we’ve hosted Palestinian refugees since their displacement for decades,\u201d he said, rejecting any attempt to undermine UNRWA\u2019s mandate, and stressing that it is not a political agency but a humanitarian one.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s delegate said her delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution in line with its support for both UNRWA and the International Court of Justice.\u00a0 Canada has provided more than $400\u00a0million in aid to Gaza since October\u00a02023 and will continue to support its reconstruction and recovery, she added.<\/p>\n

Singapore\u2019s delegate, who voted in favour, stressed that the summary of the advisory opinion in the resolution cannot replace the opinion itself. \u00a0Operative paragraphs 4a and 4b of the draft resolution \u2014 which are based on paragraphs 177 and 179 of the opinion \u2014 should be read together with paragraph 184 of the opinion, where the Court reiterated that \u201cStates possess the sovereign power of decision with respect to their acceptance of the headquarters or regional office of an organization within their territories\u201d.<\/p>\n

Germany voted in favor even though \u201cthis has not been an easy decision for us\u201d, its delegate said. \u00a0Noting that UNRWA has taken steps to implement recommendations by the Independent Review Group, he said more substantial reforms are urgently required and \u201cthey need to happen now\u201d.<\/p>\n

While welcoming the adoption, the Russian Federation\u2019s delegate added that all delegations must \u201cpragmatically approach the institution of advisory opinions\u201d \u2014 they do not and cannot create international legal obligations per se.<\/p>\n

Bulgaria\u2019s delegate,\u00a0<\/strong>who abstained in the vote, said her country remains committed to a two-State solution and diplomacy. \u00a0She expressed concern that the resolution falls short of facilitating this.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To learn more about all ICJ cases related to the question of Palestine, click here to visit the dedicated webpage.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Related content:<\/em><\/p>\n