Tanzania supports UN resolution demanding Israel's withdrawal from Gaza

New York. Tanzania has voted in support of a United Nations resolution demanding Israel end its "unlawful" presence in Gaza.

The resolution, adopted on Wednesday, calls for Israel to withdraw from the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem within one year as the conflict with Hamas approaches its first anniversary on October 7.

The resolution, the first drafted by Palestine at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), was passed with the backing of 124 countries.

The measure follows a July advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that deemed Israel's presence in Palestinian territories unlawful.

The ICJ's ruling, while non-binding, highlighted several violations, including settlement expansion and resource exploitation.

The resolution also demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the evacuation of settlers from the occupied territories. It calls for sanctions on those maintaining Israel’s presence and urges an end to arms exports to Israel if they are used in the territories.

In East Africa, the resolution received support from Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Burundi, and Mauritius.

Kenya, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan were among 43 countries that abstained from the resolution.

14 countries, including Israel and the United States, voted against it.

The US criticised the resolution, with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield arguing that it fails to recognise Hamas as a terrorist organisation and could complicate efforts toward a two-state solution. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, denounced the resolution as biassed and ignoring the role of Hamas.

The resolution tasks UN Secretary-General António Guterres with reporting on its implementation within three months, including actions taken by Israel, other states, and international organisations.