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| International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People |
| Type | International observance |
| Observedby | United Nations, United Nations General Assembly, United Nations member states, NGOs, Palestine Liberation Organization, State of Palestine |
| Date | 29 November |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Significance | Commemoration of the Partition Plan for Palestine, support for Palestinian people |
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an annual observance held on 29 November to mark the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 on the Partition Plan for Palestine and to focus attention on the situation of the Palestinian people. The observance is associated with United Nations activities, speeches by representatives of the State of Palestine, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and debates involving UN member states, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and civil society actors such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and International Committee of the Red Cross.
The observance originated in the aftermath of debates at the United Nations General Assembly and actions by the Palestine Liberation Organization seeking international recognition, resonating with milestones like Resolution 181 (1947), the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and later developments including the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1974 United Nations General Assembly resolution 3236 recognizing Palestinian rights. Calls from leaders of the Arab League, figures such as Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and diplomatic initiatives by countries including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq influenced the General Assembly decision to formalize commemorations. The day evolved through interactions with instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and subsequent UN resolutions addressing Palestinian refugees and East Jerusalem.
Observances at the United Nations Headquarters typically include addresses by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, and representatives from regional groupings such as the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Parallel events occur in capitals including Ramallah, Jerusalem, Gaza City, Cairo, Amman, Beirut, Ankara, Brussels, London, Washington, D.C. and Geneva, hosted by entities such as the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian National Authority, UNRWA, UNICEF, and United Nations Human Rights Council. Civil society actions by International Solidarity Movement, BDS movement, Students for Justice in Palestine, Amnesty International, and trade unions often include rallies, exhibitions on Nakba, film screenings of works like those by Elia Suleiman and Mohammad Bakri, and academic panels at institutions such as Columbia University, Oxford University, Birzeit University, and Al-Quds University.
The United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council have addressed Palestinian issues through resolutions including Resolution 194 (III), Resolution 242 (1967), Resolution 338 (1973), and Resolution 2334 (2016), with debates over applicability to State of Palestine status, Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA plays a central operational role in humanitarian assistance, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Human Rights Council issue reports on conditions in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The day provides a platform for the Secretary-General of the United Nations and member delegations to reiterate commitments embedded in instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to call for implementation of specific General Assembly and Security Council texts.
The observance functions as a diplomatic focal point for states and blocs such as Non-Aligned Movement, European Union, United States, Russian Federation, China, and regional actors including Iran and Saudi Arabia to articulate positions on two-state solution proposals, Oslo Accords, Camp David Accords, and peace initiatives like the Quartet on the Middle East. Statements by heads of state—past examples include Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Emmanuel Macron—have used the occasion to address negotiations, security concerns, and humanitarian access. International reactions vary from expressions of solidarity by governments such as South Africa, Turkey, Malaysia, and Sweden to cautious notes or criticism from countries including United States, Australia, and Germany regarding resolutions debated at the United Nations General Assembly.
Criticism surrounds the observance from multiple quarters: proponents of Israel—including organizations such as Aipac and politicians like Benjamin Netanyahu—have argued it politicizes the United Nations and overlooks terrorism concerns, while some critics within Palestinian civil society have challenged leadership bodies like the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian National Authority over governance and human rights allegations. Debates over funding to UNRWA have triggered controversies involving donor states such as the United States, Canada, and Netherlands, and legal disputes over the status of East Jerusalem and settlements have prompted litigation in forums like the International Court of Justice and national courts. The day has also seen confrontations at demonstrations involving groups like the International Solidarity Movement and security forces from Israel and Palestinian authorities.
Cultural programming around the observance features exhibitions, music, literature, and cinema by artists such as Mohammed Assaf, Marina Abramović (in solidarity events), Elia Suleiman, Sami Yusuf, and authors like Edward Said, Ghassan Kanafani, and Suheir Hammad. Museums and cultural institutions including the Palestine Museum, British Museum, Museum of Islamic Art (Doha), and university galleries host displays on the Nakba and Palestinian refugees, while commemorative stamps, poetry readings, and theatrical works draw on symbolic dates like Al-Nakba Day and anniversaries of Resolution 181 (1947). Academic conferences at centers such as the Institute for Palestine Studies, Birzeit University, and Al-Quds University complement artistic tributes and humanitarian campaigns coordinated with UNRWA and UNESCO.