The calamitous situation in Gaza, with Palestinian civilians facing
extermination and ethnic cleansing by Israeli forces, was a major focus
of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level week.
Along with recognition
of the state of Palestine by France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and
Canada, among others, states made key commitments on human rights and
accountability that were overwhelmingly adopted by the UNGA and now need
to be fulfilled.
On September 29, US President Donald Trump released his 20-point “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” which
makes no mention of either human rights or justice. But states should
not wait for the adoption of a peace plan to fulfill their commitments
on rights. They should take immediate action, using their leverage as
required as parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to stop Israel’s escalating atrocities against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Governments should suspend arms transfers to Israel and their preferential trade deals, ban trade with illegal settlements, and impose targeted sanctions on Israeli officials responsible for ongoing crimes against Palestinian civilians.
All governments should support accountability for Israeli authorities’ war crimes, crimes against humanity, including extermination, apartheid, and persecution, and acts of genocide. They should also pursue accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and unlawful imprisonment, committed by Palestinian armed groups against Israelis during the October 7, 2023, attacks and the holding of hostages.
They
should rally behind the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is
combating impunity for atrocity crimes globally, and condemn and act to
counter US sanctions against ICC judges and officials, prominent Palestinian rights organizations, and a UN expert.
States approved the UNGA resolution ahead of a high-level conference that marked the passing of the September 2025 deadline for states to comply with a landmark July 2024 advisory opinion
by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of
Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The
vote this year should not be an empty gesture as Israeli authorities
expand illegal settlements and further displace and exterminate
Palestinians. Respect for Palestinians’ basic rights is not dependent on
reaching agreement on a peace plan. Countries should move ahead quickly
with steps that advance justice and accountability.
