The UN General Assembly has mandated Switzerland to organize a meeting of the parties to the Geneva Conventions within six months on the conflict in the Middle East. In a text adopted in New York, it demands an end to the Israeli occupation within 12 months.
Switzerland is being asked to organise a meeting on international humanitarian law (IHL) as numerous violations in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip are being targeted by the international community. © KEYSTONE/EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
The Palestine draft resolution was approved on Wednesday by 124 votes to 14, with 43 abstentions, or the required two-thirds. Switzerland abstained.
In recent days, Berne had said it was “seriously studying” the possible request for a meeting of the high contracting parties to the Geneva Conventions. It considered that a vote in favour of the text would give it a “mandate”.
The most significant demand is for an end to the Israeli occupation within a year. In July, in an opinion requested by the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said that “the continued presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful.” The Jewish state is “under an obligation to end it (…) as soon as possible,” according to the court.
