Addressing the UN General Assembly’s emergency special session on September 17-18 “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory” on the basis of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19, Giang called on all parties involved to seriously implement the UN Security Council's Resolution 2334 (2016), and halt expansion and construction activities of new settlement areas, demolition of homes, and displacement of Palestinian people in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Vietnam respects and supports the ICJ in fulfilling its tasks, including providing advisory opinions, he stated, saying that all solutions related to the peace process in the Middle East must adhere to international law, especially UN resolutions.
In the context of the increasingly complicated situation in the Middle East and rising tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories, Giang called on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate conflicts, and facilitate dialogue as well as international efforts towards a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue.
The session adopted a resolution proposed by Palestine calling on Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories within the next 12 months, comply with international law, withdraw its military, immediately cease all new settlement activities, evacuate all settlers from the occupied lands, and dismantle a portion of the separation wall constructed within the occupied West Bank.
The resolution asked Israel to allow all displaced Palestinians to return to their places of origin and to provide compensation for losses and damage caused by the occupation. Vietnam voted in favor of the resolution along with 123 other UN member states.
Earlier, on July 19, 2024, the ICJ issued its advisory opinion at the request of the UN General Assembly in Resolution 77/247 dated December 20, 2022, affirming that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal, and that all countries have an obligation not to recognise the prolonged occupation.
