Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This resolution, drafted by the Palestinians and Syria, contains numerous one-sided criticisms of Israel - referred to throughout as "the occupying power" - over the health situation of the Palestinians in all of "the occupied Palestinian territory," including East Jerusalem and "the occupied Syrian Golan." At the same time, the resolution fails to condemn Syria for its atrocities against Syrians since 2011 and fails to acknowledge medical assistance provided by Israel to sick and injured Syrians as part of its "Operation Good Neighbor."
• Regarding the October 7 war, this resolution accuses Israel of "starvation of civilians," condemns "indiscriminate attacks on medical and humanitarian facilities" by "the occupying power," implies that Israel is not complying with its obligations to ensure entry of humanitarian assistance, medical supplies, and medical equipment. It also recalls provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice in the politicized South African genocide case.
• The resolution does not mention Hamas and fails to condemn its October 7 attack on Israel and ongoing indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians. It also does not mention the thousands of Hezbollah rockets and drones indiscriminately fired into Israel since October 7 or the mass displacements of Israelis from both the North and South of Israel due to ongoing Hamas and Hezbollah attacks. Other than one line calling for the release of hostages, the resolution omits any discussion of the health impact of the Hamas attacks on Israelis. Furthermore, other than one line condemning the use of health facilities by "armed groups," the resolution completely fails to hold Hamas accountable for any of the suffering in Gaza whether from Hamas rockets that fell short, direct attacks on Gazans, stealing incoming humanitarian aid for iits own purposes, or its human shield strategy generally.

Main Sponsors

Arab Group

Vote

Yes - 101, No - 7, Abstain - 27, Absent - 41

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Decided to request the Director-General: (3) to report on the malnutrition results from disordered nutrient assimilation characterized by recurrent infections and chronic inflammation, implying an underlying immune defect, recalling that in the occupied Gaza Strip enclave results from the use of starvation of civilians and its direct consequences, and urging the occupying power to protect civilian infrastructure…"
• "(4) to report on the link between food insecurity and the threat of famine, and calls on the occupying power to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law regarding respecting and protecting civilians and taking constant care to spare civilian objects…"
• "(7) to report on the wanton destruction of health facilities including hospitals and ambulances, and at the catastrophic humanitarian conditions that have been inflicted to the public health system in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem."
• "(8) to call upon the occupying power to fulfil its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law to ensure, to the fullest extent of the means available to it, the supply and replenishment of medicine and medical equipment to the civilian population…"
• "(17) to identify the impact of barriers to health access in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, as a result of the long-standing occupation and the ongoing war and movement restrictions of goods and persons and territorial fragmentation…"
• "(21) to report, based on field assessments conducted by the WHO, on health conditions of the Syrian populations in the occupied Syrian Golan including prisoners and detainees and ensure their adequate access to mental physical and environment health…"
• "(26) to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held in Gaza, including children, women and older persons, and condemn the use, by armed groups, of health facilities, including hospitals and ambulances, that endangers the civilian population."
• "(27) to condemn the indiscriminate attacks on medical and humanitarian facilities used exclusively for humanitarian purposes, as well as medical personnel, by the occupying power, in violation of international law."
• "(28) to recall the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, in which it ordered Israel to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance…"
• "(29) to further recall the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, where the court recalled that the military operation conducted by Israel after 7 October 2023 has resulted, inter alia, in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries and the destruction of homes, schools, medical facilities and other vital infrastructure, as well as displacement on a massive scale."