The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Clause 13), relates to the unconditional and inalienable Right of Return and Right to Self-Determination for all Palestinian refugees living across the world, and is binding on all UN member nations including Israel.
In this section, we document a partial list of legal resolutions issued by UN bodies, treaty bodies, special rapporteurs Israel has repeatedly ignored over the last 74 years.
With the exception of the very first 2 UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolutions issued by the U.N (see above), Israel has violated well over 103+ UNGA Resolutions since its founding:
29 November 1947: Resolution 181: Recommending partition of the British Mandate for Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, and international status for the City of Jerusalem.
11 May 1949: Resolution 273: Admission of Israel to membership in the UN
4 July 1949: Resolution 2253 (ES-V): Condemns Israel’s measures to change the status of Jerusalem as invalid
14 July 1949: Resolution 2254: Deplores Israel’s failure to abide by UN General Assembly Resolution 2253 (ES-V)
Resolutions between 1949-1968
19 December 1968: Resolution 2443: Establishes the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People.
11 December 1969: Resolution 2546: Condemns Israeli “violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms” in the occupied territories
4 November 1970: Resolution 2628: Urges the speedy implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 242 and recognizes that “respect for the rights of the Palestinians is an indisputable element in the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East”
5 December 1970: Resolution 2727: Calls on Israel implement the recommendations of the UN special committee investigating Israeli practices in the occupied territories
15 December 1970: Resolution 2728: Report of the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the population of the Occupied Territories.
6 December 1971: Resolution 2792: UNRWA Report. Calls for the implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution 194, stresses the “inalienable rights of the people of Palestine”, and calls on Israel to stop resettling the inhabitants of Palestinian refugee camps.
20 December 1971: Resolution 2851: Report of the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the population of the Occupied Territories. Condemns Israeli practices in the occupied territories.
15 December 1972: Resolution 3005: Report of the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the population of the Occupied Territories.
7 December 1973: Resolution 3092: Report of the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the population of the Occupied Territories.
17 December 1973: Resolution 3175: Permanent sovereignty over natural resources in the occupied Arab territories.
29 November 1974: Resolution 3240: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
29 November 1974: Resolution 3246: Affirms the legitimacy of armed resistance by oppressed peoples in pursuit of the right to self-determination, and condemns governments which do not support that right
9 December 1974: Resolution 3263: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
17 December 1974: Resolution 3336: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
10 November 1975: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379: equating Zionism with racism.
5 December 1975: Resolution 3414: Calls for economic sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel until it withdraws from all territories occupied in 1967 and grants the Palestinians their “inalienable national rights”.
11 December 1975: Resolution 3474: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
15 December 1975: Resolution 3516: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
15 December 1975: Resolution 3525: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
24 November 1976: Resolution 31/20: Expresses deep concern that no “just solution” to the “problem of Palestine” has been achieved, refers to the problem as the core of the Middle East conflict, and reaffirms the “inalienable rights” of the Palestinians, including the right of return and the right to national independence.
9 December 1976: Resolution 31/61: Reaffirms previous condemnations of Israel, and calls for the Security Council to take “effective measures” against Israel, and requests sanctions on Israel.
10 December 1976: Resolution 31/71: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
16 December 1976: Resolution 31/106: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Occupied Territories.
21 December 1976: Resolution 31/186: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
28 October 1977: Resolution 32/5: Reaffirms previous condemnations of Israel, and stresses the “urgent need” to achieve a “just and lasting peace in the Middle East”.
25 November 1977: Resolution 32/20: Reaffirms previous calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and an international peace conference with PLO participation.
2 December 1977: Resolution 32/40: Reaffirms the “inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”, including the right to national sovereignty and the right of return.
12 December 1977: Resolution 32/82: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
13 December 1977: Resolution 32/91: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories. Calls on Israel to respect the Geneva Conventions
19 December 1977: Resolution 32/161: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
7 December 1978: Resolution 33/29: Reaffirms previous calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and an international peace conference with PLO participation.
14 December 1978: Resolution 33/64: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
14 December 1978: Resolution 33/71-A: Expressing concern over military build-up and attempts of acquiring nuclear weapons of Israel. Calling for arms embargo against Israel.
18 December 1978: Resolution 33/113: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
11 December 1979: Resolution 34/77: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
11 December 1979: Resolution 34/89: Israeli nuclear armament.
12 December 1979: Resolution 34/90: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
14 December 1979: Resolution 34/136: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
5 December 1980: Resolution 35/110: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
11 December 1980: Resolution 35/122: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
12 December 1980: Resolution 35/147: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
12 December 1980: Resolution 35/157: Israeli nuclear armament.
16 December 1980: Resolution 35/207: Reaffirms previous calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
28 October 1981: Resolution 36/15: Demanding that Israel desist any archaeological excavations in the Temple Mount.
9 December 1981: Resolution 36/87: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
9 December 1981: Resolution 36/98: Israeli nuclear armament. Demands that Israel renounce possession of nuclear weapons and submit its facilities to inspection.
16 December 1981: Resolution 36/147: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
16 December 1981: Resolution 36/150: Demands Israel to cease planning of a canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
17 December 1981: Resolution 36/173: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories.
17 December 1981: UN General Assembly Resolutions 36/226 A & B: Reaffirms previous calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
16 November 1982: Resolution 37/18: Condemns Israel refusal to implement Security Council resolution 487, and demands Israel to withdraw its threat to attack nuclear facilities of neighbouring nations.
9 December 1982: Resolution 37/75: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
9 December 1982: Resolution 37/82: Israeli nuclear armament.
10 December 1982: Resolution 37/88: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
16 December 1982: Resolution 37/122: Demands Israel not to build a canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
16 December 1982: Resolution 37/123: Condemnation of Israel’s alleged responsibility for the Sabra and Shatila massacre by Kataeb Party in Beirut, Lebanon; resolves that the massacre was an act of genocide; condemns acts of plundering Palestinian cultural heritage; condemns the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights; and condemns the annexation of Jerusalem.
17 December 1982: Resolution 37/135: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories.
20 December 1982: Resolution 37/222: Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
10 November 1983: Resolution 38/9: Reiterates the demand that Israel withdraw its threat to attack nuclear facilities of neighbouring nations.
13 December 1983: Resolution 38/64: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
15 December 1983: Resolution 38/69: Israeli nuclear armament.
15 December 1983: Resolutions 38/79: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
15 December 1983: Resolution 38/85: Demands Israel not to build a canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
19 December 1983: Resolution 38/144: Permanent sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories.
19 December 1983: Resolution 38/166: Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
19 December 1983: Resolutions 38/180: Calls all nation to suspend or sever all diplomatic, economic and technological ties with Israel. Condemnation of Israel on various topics including occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights, war in Lebanon and the annexation of Jerusalem.
23 November 1984: Resolution 39/14: Reiterates the demand that Israel withdraw its threat to attack nuclear facilities of neighbouring nations.
12 December 1984: Resolution 39/54: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
14 December 1984: Resolutions 39/95: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
14 December 1984: Resolution 39/101: Demands Israel not to build a canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
14 December 1984: Resolution 39/146: Reaffirmation of resolution 38/180 condemning Israel and calling all nations to cut ties with it.
17 December 1984: Resolution 39/147: Israeli nuclear armament.
17 December 1984: Resolution 39/169: Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
18 December 1984: Resolution 39/223: Economic development projects in the occupied Palestinian territories.
1 November 1985: Resolution 40/6: Reaffirmation of the condemnation of Israel on its attack on Iraqi nuclear facility.
12 December 1985: Resolution 40/82: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
12 December 1985: Resolution 40/93: Israeli nuclear armament.
16 December 1985: Resolutions 40/161: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
16 December 1985: Resolution 40/167: Decides to monitor Israel decision to construct a canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
16 December 1985: Resolution 40/168: Reaffirmation of resolution 38/180 condemning Israel and calling all nations to cut ties with it.
17 December 1985: Resolution 40/169: Economic development projects in the occupied Palestinian territories.
17 December 1985: Resolution 40/201: Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
29 October 1986: Resolution 41/12: Calling Israel to place its nuclear facilities under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
10 November 1986: Resolution 41/35-C: Demanding that Israel terminate all form of collaboration with South Africa.
3 December 1986: Resolution 41/48: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
3 December 1986: Resolutions 41/63: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
4 December 1986: Resolution 41/93: Israeli nuclear armament.
4 December 1986: Resolution 41/162: Reaffirmation of resolution 38/180 condemning Israel and calling all nations to cut ties with it.
30 November 1987: Resolution 42/28: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
30 November 1987: Resolution 42/44: Israeli nuclear armament.
8 December 1987: Resolutions 42/160: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
11 December 1987: Resolution 42/166: Assistance to the Palestinian people.
11 December 1987: Resolution 42/190: Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
11 December 1987: Resolution 42/209: Reaffirmation of resolution 38/180 condemning Israel and calling all nations to cut ties with it.
6 December 1988: Resolution 43/54: Reaffirmation of resolution 38/180 condemning Israel and calling all nations to cut ties with it.
6 December 1988: Resolutions 43/58: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
7 December 1988: Resolution 43/65: Calling for an establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
7 December 1988: Resolution 43/80: Israeli nuclear armament.
Resolutions between 1989-2011
29 March 2012: Resolution 66/225: Exploitation of natural resources.
Resolutions between 2012-2017
21 December 2017: Resolution A/ES-10L.22: Criticizing US policy on Jerusalem.
Resolutions between 2018-2023
Note: The list above is not conclusive as there are many more such violations.
A separate list of 26+ UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions Israel has also been in continuous violation of:
11 April 1961: Resolution 162: Urges Israel to comply with UN decisions.
14 June 1967: Resolution 237: (Six-Day War): Urges Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees and called on Israel to ensure the safety and welfare of inhabitants of areas where fighting had taken place.
22 November 1967: Resolution 242: Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area. Calls on Israel’s neighbors to end the state of belligerency and calls upon Israel to reciprocate by withdraw its forces from land claimed by other parties in 1967 war. Interpreted commonly today as calling for the land for peace principle as a way to resolve Arab–Israeli conflict.
21 May 1968: Resolution 252: Declares invalid’ Israel’s acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital.
3 July 1969: Resolution 267: Censures’ Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem.
Resolutions between 1970
15 September 1969: Resolution 271: Condemns’ Israel’s failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem.
25 September 1971: Resolution 298: Deplores Israel’s changing of the status of Jerusalem.
Resolutions between 1972-1978
1979: Resolution 446: Determines’ that Israeli settlements are a ‘serious obstruction’ to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.
1979: Resolution 452: Calls’ on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories.
1979: Resolution 465: Deplores’ Israel’s settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel’s settlements program.
1979: Resolution 469: Strongly deplores’ Israel’s failure to observe the council’s order not to deport Palestinians.
1979: Resolution 471: Expresses deep concern’ at Israel’s failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.
1979: Resolution 476: Reiterates’ that Israel’s claim to Jerusalem are ‘null and void'”. The altering of the status of Jerusalem constitutes as a flagrant violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.
20 August 1980: Resolution 478: Censures (Israel) in the strongest terms’ for its claim to Jerusalem in its ‘Basic Law’.
20 August 1980: Resolution 605: Strongly deplores’ Israel’s policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians.
20 August 1980: Resolution 607: Calls’ on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.
20 August 1980: Resolution 608: Deeply regrets’ that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians.
20 August 1980: Resolution 636: Deeply regrets’ Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians.
Resolutions between 1980-1989
30 Aug 1989: Resolution 641: Deplores’ Israel’s continuing deportation of Palestinians.
12 Oct 1990: Resolution 672: Condemns’ Israel for “violence against Palestinians” at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.
24 Oct 1990: Resolution 673: Deplores Israel’s refusal to cooperate with the United Nations.”
20 Dec 1990: Resolution 681 Deplores Israel’s resumption of the deportation of Palestinians.
24 May 1991: Resolution 694: Deplores Israel’s deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return.
06 Jan 1992: Resolution 726: Strongly condemns Israel’s deportation of Palestinians.
18 Dec 1992: Resolution 799: Strongly condemns Israel’s deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return.
Resolutions between 1993-2016
23 December 2016: Resolution 2334: Called for an end to Israeli settlement building
Resolutions between 2017-2023
Note: The list above is not conclusive as there are many more such violations.
A list of Geneva Conventions Israel has also chosen to ignore:
Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention i.e., collective punishment is forbidden under international humanitarian law, where Israel has no right to seal and demolish the houses of, and arrest family members of Palestinian(s) killed, accused or convicted of, attacking or killing Israeli soldiers or illegal settlers.
The Fourth Geneva Convention where all high contracting parties including Israel to need to fulfil their obligations under Article 1; i.e., ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Article 51 of the First Additional Protocol, Fourth Geneva Convention, relating to the protocol that the civilian population and individual civilians should not be targeted by military operations.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, where the consensus view of the international community is that Israeli settlements are illegal and constitute a violation of international law.
Note: The list above is not conclusive as there are many more such violations.
An advisory opinion (2004) issued by The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Conventions that Israel was also quick to ignore.
9 July 2004: Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the illegal wall being built on Palestinian land across the the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including in and around East Jerusalem, in violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
- The construction of the wall and its associated régime were contrary to the relevant provisions of the Hague Regulations of 1907 and of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
- How [the wall] impeded the liberty of movement of the inhabitants of the territory as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as their exercise of the right to work, to health, to education and to an adequate standard of living as proclaimed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- The fact that, coupled with the establishment of settlements, the construction of the wall and its associated régime were tending to alter the demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, thereby contravening the Fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
- How the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was not convinced that the specific course Israel had chosen for the wall was necessary to attain its security objectives, and that accordingly the construction of the wall constituted a breach by Israel of certain of its obligations under humanitarian and human rights law.
Violations of previous agreement with the United States Government
- Repeal of the disengagement law (paving the way for reconstruction of Israeli settlements in the occupied west bank)