The ongoing 10th Emergency Special Session of the United
Nations General Assembly adopted an important resolution, affirming the recent
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024 that
declared the occupation of Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territories
illegal.
The resolution was tabled by Palestine and was co-sponsored
by 53 countries, including Bangladesh.
The adoption was through a vote, with 124 countries in
favour and 14 against, with 43 abstentions. As a co-sponsor, Bangladesh voted
in favour.
The resolution, in light of the recent ICJ verdict, calls
upon Israel to end its unlawful presence in Palestine, the first step of which
to end its military campaign in Gaza.
The resolution also calls for, among others, the
establishment of an international mechanism for reparation for all damage,
loss, or injury arising from the internationally wrongful acts of Israel in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
It also requests the UN Secretary-General to present a
report on the implementation of the resolution.
The resolution also calls for ensuring accountability for
the atrocity crimes committed by Israel, especially in light of the Fourth
Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians.
Through adopting the resolution, the General Assembly has
also decided to hold an international conference within one year on Palestine,
with the objective to find out ways and means to establish an independent
Palestinian state.
In general, the resolution is being considered as an
important step towards achieving the solution of the Middle East crisis through
implementing the two-state solution.
During the debate in the General Assembly on September 18,
Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the
UN, delivered Bangladesh’s national statement.
Ambassador Muhith welcomed the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice as a historic one and called upon all member
states to abide by this.
He also expressed Bangladesh's grave concern about the
ongoing atrocities and high death toll in Gaza and called for an immediate
ceasefire referring to the UN Security Council resolution 2728.
He emphasized that the two-state solution, based on the
pre-1967 border of the Palestinian state, is the only pathway for achieving
sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN also
appreciated the roles of the International Court of Justice and the
International Criminal Court in the process of ensuring accountability of
illegal occupation and mass atrocity crimes in Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
He appreciated the UN Secretary-General and UN Human Right
High Commissioner's statements concerning the grave humanitarian and human
rights situation in Gaza.