The United Nations has officially decided to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba for the first time, with the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at its headquarters in New York. Abbas praised the initiative during a high-level meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on Monday, noting that "the violence of settlers is escalating and demolition activities are being carried out relentlessly against Palestinians." He expressed concern over the practices occurring within and near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, deeming them alarming.
He announced that a memorial would be erected in Palestine in commemoration of the event, calling on Israel to respect the decisions of the UN. Abbas spoke about member states of the organization that have deliberately obstructed the implementation of decisions concerning Palestinian rights.
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, described the organization's move as "historic and significant" due to the General Assembly's crucial role in the partition of Palestine. Mansour told a group of UN reporters, "This acknowledges the responsibility of the United Nations for its failure to resolve this catastrophe that has befallen the Palestinian people for 75 years."
He added, "The catastrophe of the Palestinian people is ongoing. Palestinians still do not have an independent state and do not have the right to return to their homes as called for by the General Assembly resolution adopted in December 1948."
The General Assembly, which included 57 states in 1947, approved the partition of Palestine with a majority of 33 votes in favor, 13 against, and 10 members abstaining from voting.
