Seven Pacific Island nations – Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Tuvalu were among the 14 countries that voted against a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories without delay.
The resolution, passed with 124 votes in favour, follows a July ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which deemed Israel’s presence in the occupied territories unlawful and called for an immediate halt to settlement activities.
The vote, while non-binding, has garnered significant attention due to its backing by the ICJ’s advisory ruling.
Four Pacific nations- Australia, Kiribati, Samoa, and Vanuatu chose to abstain, reflecting the complexity of the issue and their diplomatic balancing acts.
In contrast, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and New Zealand voted in favour of the resolution, joining the global majority in demanding Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied lands.
The UNGA resolution states: “Israel’s security concerns cannot override the principle of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force,” and calls on member states to halt imports from Israeli settlements and stop supplying arms that may be used in the occupied territories.
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, slammed the vote, calling it “a shameful decision” and criticising the assembly for failing to condemn Hamas while supporting what he termed as “the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism.”
Despite its symbolic nature, the vote reflects growing international pressure on Israel, though the United States lobbied to minimise the resolution’s support.
