- Switzerland wants to convene a meeting of the parties to the Geneva Conventions on the Middle East conflict.
- The UN General Assembly granted the organization a corresponding mandate in New York on Wednesday.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on the short message service X that it would like to hold a corresponding conference. According to the resolution, this should take place within six months.
Respect for international law and the protection of the civilian population must be the highest priority, wrote the EDA. There must be a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages.
The illegality of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is beyond doubt. It must stop and a “political horizon” is needed.
Nevertheless, Switzerland abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly because some points went beyond the legal opinion of the International Court of Justice: This included the twelve-month deadline for Israel’s withdrawal, without mentioning how Israel’s security could be guaranteed.
Clear majority for resolution
The UN General Assembly had previously called for this deadline with a clear majority of 124 votes. In addition to Switzerland, 42 other states abstained. Israel and the USA voted against the proposal, along with twelve other countries.
In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in an advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories was illegal. Israel was obliged to end the situation as quickly as possible.
In recent days, Switzerland announced that it was examining in more detail the possible request for a meeting of the parties to the Geneva Conventions. In the past, it had already organized three meetings of the parties to the Geneva Conventions to address the situation in the Middle East.
Palestine takes initiative
The vote in the General Assembly took place at the request of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in April this year. The Council had recommended that the body request that Switzerland convene the meeting of the parties.
Palestine then took the initiative and proposed a draft text to the General Assembly for the first time. The occupied Palestinian territories were given this opportunity by the UN General Assembly last May, although they are still not a member of the United Nations due to the US veto in the Security Council.
Israel is angry
Wednesday’s resolution also demands that the General Assembly organize an international conference on the implementation of the UN resolutions on the conflict and the two-state solution. Israel reacted angrily to the decision. This is diplomatic terrorism, said the Israeli UN ambassador.
Before the text was adopted, several dozen independent UN experts called on states to adhere to the ICJ’s opinion. Countries should review all political and economic relations that would support the occupation. The experts also called for an arms embargo and sanctions against individuals or companies that support the Israeli presence in the Palestinian territories.