Egypt welcomes General Assembly voting to grant Palestine “full membership” in UN

CAIRO – 10 May 2024:  Egypt welcomes the UN General Assembly voting in favor of a draft resolution to grant Palestine “full membership” in the United Nations, with a total of 143 ‘yes’ countries’ votes.

Egypt considered that the issuance of this ‘historic decision’ was an embodiment of historical reality and truth on the ground and a recognition of the rights of a people who had suffered for more than seven decades of foreign occupation.

 The statement also noted the importance of the timing of adopting this decision at a delicate stage that the Palestinian issue is going through.

Egypt called on all countries that have not yet decided to recognize the Palestinian state to move forward in taking this important step.

Egypt also called on the Security Council and influential international parties to deal with the required responsibility for the ‘dangerous situation witnessed in the Gaza Strip’, especially the Palestinian city of Rafah, which is exposed to humanitarian risks.

Egypt renewed its demand for the importance of intensifying international efforts to achieve the vision of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The UN General Assembly voted, on Friday, in favor of a draft resolution to grant Palestine “full membership” in the United Nations, with a total of 143 ‘yes’ countries’ votes.

According to the newly adopted resolution, the General Assembly recommends Security Council to reconsider the matter of Palestine's “full membership” favorably, changing modalities for its participation in meetings.

A total of 143 countries voted in favor, 9 against and 25 abstained.

Palestinian representative to the United Nations said during the session that Israel has pursued a policy of destruction and displacement in the Gaza Strip.

He added that the lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are collapsing, as Israel deliberately spreads famine.

“Netanyahu kills thousands of Palestinians to preserve his political future and says that Palestine poses a threat to him,” the Palestinian representative said.

He called on the United Nations member countries to vote in favor of the draft resolution affirming that Palestinian people have the right to self-determination.

He said that ‘full state membership’ for Palestine is the path to achieving peace.