In a significant move, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has shown support for a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join. The UNGA has recommended that the UN Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably," after the United States vetoed the Palestinian bid in the Security Council last month.

The vote, which took place on Friday, served as a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member, effectively acknowledging the existence of a Palestinian state. The UNGA resolution, adopted with an overwhelming majority, garnered 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the US and Israel, while 25 countries abstained.

It is important to note that this resolution does not grant full UN membership to the Palestinians but rather recognizes them as qualified to join. However, from September 2024, the Palestinians will enjoy some additional rights and privileges, such as a seat among the UN members in the assembly hall. Regrettably, they will not be granted voting rights in the body.

The high number of countries voting in favor of the resolution has been lauded as significant by Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York. He stated that the outcome exceeded expectations, with previous estimates ranging from 120 to 140 votes in favor. Elizondo emphasized the overwhelming support for the Palestinian cause demonstrated by the vote.

The push for full UN membership comes at a critical time, with the backdrop of a seven-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Prior to the vote, Palestine's ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, urged member states to vote in favor, asserting that doing so would uphold freedom, justice, and peace.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the passage of the resolution, stating that it symbolizes global solidarity with the rights and freedom of the Palestinian people and opposition to Israel's occupation. Al Jazeera's senior political analyst Marwan Bishara described the vote as a crucial milestone for Palestine's status in the international arena, though he noted that it may not immediately impact the situation in Gaza.

Unsurprisingly, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, strongly condemned the vote, suggesting that the UN is now welcoming a "terror state" into its ranks. Erdan accused the UN of contradicting its founding mission and advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state led by what he called "the Hitler of our times."

While the UNGA's support is a significant step, the Palestinian bid for full UN membership still requires approval from the 15-member Security Council, where it is likely to face a US veto. Bishara believes that the voting patterns on Friday may have been influenced by attitudes towards the United States, with some votes cast against the US as much as they were in favor of Palestine, and others abstaining under US pressure.

The Palestinian cause for full UN membership remains embattled, but the recognition as qualified to join by the UNGA signifies an important milestone in their journey to establish a global presence. The resolution serves as a powerful symbol of support for Palestinian rights and a call for justice in this ongoing conflict.