UNGA Adopts Draft Resolution Supporting Palestinians’ Right to Self-Determination

December 16, 2025 News
The United Nations General Assembly. (Photo: via Guterres X Page)

The draft resolution was approved by a strong majority of 164 member states, with eight countries voting against it, including Israel and the United States.

The UN General Assembly on Monday overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, including the right to an independent State of Palestine, the Anadolu news agency reported.

The draft resolution was approved by a strong majority of 164 member states, with eight countries voting against it, namely Israel, the US, Micronesia, Argentina, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Nauru.

Nine countries abstained: Ecuador, Togo, Tonga, Panama, Fiji, Cameroon, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, and South Sudan.

Adopted under the agenda item on the right of peoples to self-determination, the resolution reaffirmed long-standing UN positions recognizing the Palestinians’ right to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

Principle of International Law

The document recalled relevant UN resolutions and international legal instruments, including the UN Charter and international human rights covenants, underscoring that self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law.

It also urged all states, UN specialized agencies and organizations within the UN system to continue supporting and assisting the Palestinian people in the early realization of this right.

Undoing Exceptionalism: Leveraging the Law in Service of Palestinian Liberation

The resolution further stressed the need to respect the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and reiterates support for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on international law and UN resolutions.

Resolution on Entry of Gaza Aid

On Friday, the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution demanding that Israel allow full humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip, respect the inviolability of UN premises, and comply with its obligations under international law.

The resolution responds to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) recent advisory opinion outlining Israel’s obligations as both an “occupying power” and a UN member state.

The resolution, submitted by Norway and more than 12 other states, received support from 139 countries, with 12 voting against and 19 abstaining.

Civilians ‘Paying Highest Price’

Norway’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Merete Fjeld Brattested warned before the vote that “2024 was among the most violent years in three decades. 2025 has followed suit. There are a few signs that this trajectory will ease in the year ahead. The situation in occupied Palestine is a particular point in mind.”

“Civilians are paying the highest price. Respect for humanitarian principles is eroding. The most fundamental tenets of humanitarian law are under pressure,” Brattested said, stressing that advisory proceedings before the ICJ serve as a tool to clarify legal responsibilities.

Rising Death Toll

Israel continues to violate the US-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that took effect on October 10, killing a total of 393 Palestinians since then and injuring over 1,000 more.

The total death toll since it launched a genocidal military assault on the enclave in October 2023, has risen to 70,667 with  171,151 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The Ministry on Tuesday announced the death of another infant Muhammad Khalil Abu Al-Khair, only two weeks old, following a sharp drop in body temperature due to the extreme cold. He arrived at the hospital two days ago and was admitted to the intensive care unit, but died on Monday.

(PC, Anadolu)

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