Skopje, 19 September 2024 (MIA) - North Macedonia abstained in Wednesday’s vote in the UN General Assembly calling for Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in occupied Palestinian territory within a year.

The resolution, which was submitted by the State of Palestine, received the backing of 124 out of 193 members of the UN General Assembly, 14 voted against while 43 abstained.

The resolution demands that Israel withdraw its forces and evacuate all settlers from occupied land.

European countries were divided in their vote. The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Austria, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries abstained in the vote, while France, Portugal, Malta, Belgium, Spain and Norway voted in favor.

The United States, Israel, Czechia, Hungary and others voted against the resolution.

Israel took control of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967.

In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must end as soon as possible. 

Photo: MIA Archive