Ramallah, 7 April 2024 (TDI): The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the Human Rights Council’s adoption of Palestinian resolutions in its 55th regular session.
The three resolutions adopted are based on the accountability of Israel, stopping the sale and export of weapons to Israel, the right to self-determination of Palestinians, and Israel’s illegal colonial settlements.
The resolutions have been taken up under the second item of the agenda of the Council titled: ‘Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, and the necessity of ensuring accountability and achieving justice.’
Likewise, under clause seven on the rights of the Palestinian people, the two resolutions include the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people and the illegal Israeli settlements.
The Foreign Ministry thanked the member states which adopted and voted in favor of the resolutions presented by the State of Palestine through its mission and the fraternal and friendly countries and groups.
Particularly, according to the Ministry, the vote comes at a time when the Palestinian people have been exposed to a genocidal war, which reflects the principled position of the member states on the importance of holding the Israeli apartheid and colonial system accountable.
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Results of HRC55
In the HRC55th session, 28 countries voted in favor of the accountability resolution, including sister Arab countries, and important European, Asian, and African countries.
Then, 13 countries have abstained. These include Albania, Benin, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, India, Japan, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands and Romania.
While 6 countries have voted against it, this includes Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Malawi, Paraguay and the United States.
Right to self-determination
The decision on the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people was approved by international consensus, with 42 countries voting in favor of the decision, 3 countries abstaining (Albania, Argentina, and Cameroon) and 2 countries isolated themselves by voting against (Paraguay and the United States).
Illegal Israeli settlements
The settlements decision was unanimously approved by 36 countries that voted in favor of the resolution, while 8 countries abstained (Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Romania), and 3 countries isolated themselves by voting against (Malawi, Paraguay, and the United States).
With both resolutions, the Ministry stressed the importance of stopping dealings with the settlement system and not providing any assistance that contributes to the preservation of this illegal system.
Moreover, it calls on countries to take the necessary measures to dry up the sources of settler colonialism.
And, make further requests to the Permanent Investigation Committee to prepare a report identifying the settlers committing crimes against the Palestinian people.
Implications of decisions
The Foreign Ministry called on the countries that did not support the resolution to review their positions to reject genocide and apartheid, support Palestinian human rights, and abandon double standards.
The Ministry believes that such choices shall undoubtedly harm the credibility and reputation of these countries, place them in the position of being complicit to the genocide, and encourage Israel to continue with its crimes.
Furthermore, it has requested “all countries to stop the sale, transfer, and transfer of weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment to Israel.”
It understands that Israel and its various tools, including its occupying forces and officials and terrorist colonialists, are committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of genocide.
Hence, countries should stop exporting, selling, or transferring surveillance goods, technologies, and weapons, including “dual-use” items to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
Lastly, it stressed that the decisions included practical mechanisms for implementation.
Conclusively, the votes must be translated into practical steps through which countries express their commitment to shoulder their responsibilities in ensuring accountability and achieving justice.
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