The United Nations General Assembly today voted overwhelmingly to demand that Israel comply with an advisory opinion issued earlier this month by the World Court, which declared the construction of a separation barrier in and around the West Bank to be illegal. In adopting a resolution by a vote of 150 to 6, with 10 abstentions, the Assembly also called on all UN Member States to comply with its obligations as contained in the finding by ICJ, which include a duty “not to recognize the illegal situation” and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction. Read more about UN Assembly votes overwhelmingly to demand Israel comply with ICJ ruling 

The United Nations General Assembly today delayed until Tuesday a vote on a draft resolution introduced by Arab countries that seeks to end Israel’s construction of a separation barrier in and around the West Bank after the barrier was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The vote had been scheduled for today after Jordan introduced the draft text last Friday during a resumption of the Assembly’s tenth emergency special session on illegal Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Read more about General Assembly delays vote on Wall resolution 

The United Nations General Assembly today discussed measures to end Israel’s construction of a separation barrier in and around the West Bank after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared it to be illegal. The Assembly met in a resumption of its tenth emergency special session on illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory following a request of the Arab Group. Last week the ICJ issued an advisory opinion saying the separation barrier was illegal and that construction must stop immediately. The Court also said Israel should make reparations for any damage caused, and that the Assembly and the Security Council should consider what steps to take “to bring to an end the illegal situation” created by the situation. Read more about General Assembly debates measures after ICJ's ruling on the wall 

“It has been more than three weeks since the Security Council adopted resolution 1544 (2004), in which the Council, inter alia, called on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, and insisted, in particular, on its obligation not to undertake demolition of homes contrary to that law. Yet Israel has not complied with the resolution, responding instead with blatant contempt and disregard for the international community and for the rule of international law”, writes Nasser al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations in identical letters addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council. Read more about Israel does not comply with demands of UN Security Council, writes Palestine's observer to the UN 

The situation on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem was very bleak, and the overall political situation was very volatile, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was told today, as it met to consider recent developments, including in the political arena. The Committee approved the provisional programme of the United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa on 29 and 30 June. Read more about Situation on the ground "very bleak", Palestinian rights committee told 

The United Nations and the international community will not abandon the estimated four million Palestinian refugees scattered across the Middle East - that was the vow today from participants at the conclusion of a two-day conference in Geneva about tackling the Palestinians’ humanitarian needs. During the meeting of countries and international organizations, delegates pledged to donate $10.5 million to help the Palestinians, with several other countries or regional groups also promising to give financial aid in the future. They also agreed that special attention should be given to the needs and concerns of Palestinian children. Read more about UN and individual countries pledge to never abandon the Palestinian refugees 

The Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, echo the concerns expressed by the Security Council of the United Nations in its resolution 1544 and by the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights about violence and loss of life during the peaceful demonstration in the Rafah refugee camp of the Gaza Strip on 19 May 2004. The experts said they received credible information that demonstrators were engaged in peaceful activities in exercise their right to protest. Read more about UN human rights experts echo concerns about events in Rafah and Gaza Strip 

The Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, today called on Israel to respect international law and end its use of disproportionate force in the Gaza Strip, saying that even under security-related matters there was no “license to kill.” Mr. Ramcharan “is deeply disturbed about the consequences of Israel’s recent military operation in the Gaza strip, in particular in Rafah, and its disproportionate use of force in densely populated areas,” José Luis Díaz, spokesman for the High Commissioner’s Office, said in a statement issued in Geneva. Read more about UN rights chief deeply disturbed by recent Israeli actions in Gaza