UNGA Resolution A/C.3/79/L.49: The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

The following is the full text of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/C.3/79/L.49: The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, adopted on December 17, 2024. In the resolution, the UN General Assembly reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, including establishing an independent State of Palestine. It recalls international law, human rights declarations, and the 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on Israel’s policies in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory,“ including East Jerusalem. The resolution emphasizes the urgency of ending the Israeli “occupation” that began in 1967 and achieving a just, lasting peace based on UN resolutions, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the Quartet Road Map. It stresses the importance of territorial unity, contiguity, and integrity of the “Occupied Palestinian Territory.“ The Assembly calls on all States and UN organizations to support the Palestinian people in achieving their right to self-determination. The resolution was adopted with 172 countries supporting it, 7 countries opposing it, and 8 countries abstaining.

The General Assembly,

Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter,

Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, entitled “Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations”,

Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights, ¹ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,² the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples ³ and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,⁴

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,⁵

Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative⁶ and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,⁷

Stressing also the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012,

Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,

Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine;
Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination.

* On behalf of the States that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, taking into account also the provisions of General Assembly resolution ES-10/23 of 10 May 2024.

¹ Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

² Resolution 217 A (III).

³ Resolution 1514 (XV).

⁴ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.

⁵ A/78/968.

Source: “Resolutions of the 79th Session,” United Nations.