UNGA Resolution for Palestine's UN Membership Bid | 15 May 2024
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted in favour of the resolution granting new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.
- The resolution "determines" that the state of Palestine is qualified for membership and recommends the Security Council reconsider its request "favourably."
- The resolution grants Palestine the right to speak on all issues, propose agenda items, and participate in UN and international conferences, but explicitly states that Palestine does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly.
- India voted in favour of the UN resolution recommending Palestine for full UN membership.
- Despite opposition from the US, the resolution received 143 votes in favour, signalling a global push for Palestine's status upgrade within the UN.
- Palestinian first delivered the application for UN membership in 2011, which failed to garner the required support in the Security Council.
- Subsequently, the General Assembly upgraded Palestine's status to a non-member observer state in 2012, allowing participation in international organisations like the International Criminal Court.
- The renewed push for full Palestinian membership in the UN comes as the war in Gaza has put the more than 75-year-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict at centre stage.
