In a significant move, the U.N. General Assembly has voted to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine, while calling on the Security Council to reassess Palestine's request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The resolution, sponsored by Arab and Palestinian representatives, received overwhelming support from the world body, with 143 member states voting in favor, 9 against, and 25 abstentions.

The broad support for Palestine's membership reflects global concern over the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where over 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Despite the granting of new rights and privileges, the resolution reaffirms that Palestine remains a non-member observer state without the right to vote in the General Assembly or its conferences.

The United States, along with Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Papua New Guinea, voted against the resolution. The U.S. has reiterated its stance of blocking Palestinian membership and statehood until key issues such as security, boundaries, and the future of Jerusalem are resolved through direct negotiations with Israel.

While the U.S. supports Palestinian statehood, Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized that it can only be attained through negotiations that ensure Israel's security and future as a democratic Jewish state and guarantee Palestinians can live in peace in a state of their own. The U.S. has previously vetoed a council resolution in April that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine.

Palestine, which became a non-member observer state in 2012, now qualifies for membership according to the resolution. This development prompts the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's request favorably. Unlike in the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly, allowing for a two-thirds majority vote to carry the resolution.

The renewed push for full Palestinian membership in the United Nations comes at a critical time as the war in Gaza has brought the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the forefront. Meetings at the council and assembly have witnessed widespread outrage over the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians in Gaza and the reported death toll of over 34,000 people, as stated by Gaza health officials.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, delivered an emotional speech before the vote, highlighting the immense losses and trauma experienced by Palestinians and condemning Israel's actions in Rafah. Mansour accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over the lives of thousands of Palestinians and attempting to destroy the Palestinian people.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, vehemently opposed the resolution, claiming that it rewards Hamas, a group he labeled as "modern-day Nazis," with rights and privileges. Erdan warned that granting privileges to what he referred to as the "future terror state of Hamas" would undermine the U.N. Charter.

The final draft of the resolution addressed concerns from the U.S., Russia, and China. The language was revised to avoid setting a precedent for other potential U.N. members. It grants Palestine the rights to speak on all issues, propose agenda items, reply in debates, and serve on the assembly's main committees. However, it does not provide Palestine with the right to vote in the General Assembly.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted the application for U.N. membership in 2011, which failed to meet the required support from the Security Council. However, in the following years, Palestine's status was raised from an observer to a non-member observer state, allowing them to join various U.N. and international organizations, including the International Criminal Court.

With the General Assembly's bold move, the spotlight is once again on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's plea for full membership within the United Nations.