The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is celebrated annually on November 29. Its objective is to raise awareness in the international community about the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, as well as to reaffirm the United Nations' commitment and solidarity with them.

The “question” of Palestine dates back to events that took place at the end of the First World War and which persist to this day.

Despite the recent recognition of Palestine as a “non-member observer state” through the Resolution 67/19 of the UN General Assembly, the issue of Israeli settlements is still a concern today with regard to human rights, the maintenance of peace and dialogue between the parties.

Every year, several initiatives and events take place, organized by the UN and civil society organizations.

In 1977, the UN General Assembly called for the annual observance of November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine, having been implemented through the Resolution 32/40 B. That day was chosen because, on that date in 1947, the Assembly adopted the Resolution 181 (II), on the partition of Palestine.

Na Resolution 60/37 of 1 December 2005, the Assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Palestinian Rights Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibition or cultural event on the rights of the Palestinian people.

The resolution on the implementation of the International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine, also encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of that day.

The Palestine issue has deep roots that date back to the post-World War I period, when world powers began to redraw the geopolitical maps of the Middle East.

Under the British Mandate, established in 1920 by the League of Nations, tensions in the region increased due to the contradictory promise of a “national home for the Jewish people“, made in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the commitment to protect the rights of local Arab communities.

After the Second World War, with the intensification of Jewish migration movements to Palestine and the increase in conflicts between Jewish and Arab communities, the issue was formally presented to the United Nations in 1947.

The UN proposed a partition plan that envisaged the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under international administration. However, while Jewish leaders accepted the proposal, the Arabs rejected it, considering it an unfair imposition that disregarded the rights of the native inhabitants.

The proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948, followed by the Nakba ("catastrophe" in Arabic), intensified the crisis. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced, creating one of the most protracted refugee crises in contemporary history.

Since then, the region has been the scene of wars, occupations, resistance and negotiations, but the search for a just solution remains a challenge for the international community.

The United Nations, despite numerous resolutions and mediation efforts, continues to face difficulties in reaching a consensus that respects the Palestinians' right to self-determination and promotes peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the region.

This dilemma reflects the historical and geopolitical complexity of the Palestinian question, which persists as one of the greatest challenges to peace in the Middle East.

Every year on this day, the international community expresses its solidarity for the dignity, rights, justice, and self-determination of the Palestinian people. This year's commemoration is especially painful because these fundamental goals remain so far away.

Nothing justifies the October 7th terrorist attacks and the hostage-taking by Hamas. And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Yet, more than a year later, Gaza lies in ruins, more than 43 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have reportedly been killed, and the humanitarian crisis worsens daily. This is appalling and inexcusable.

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli military operations, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions, settler violence, and threats of annexation are inflicting further pain and injustice.

It is high time for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly,

We must move irreversibly towards a two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions – with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security and Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

As a matter of urgency, I call for full support for life-saving humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people – particularly through the work of UNRWA, which represents an irreplaceable lifeline for millions of Palestinians.

The United Nations will continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights to live in peace, security and dignity.

The issue of Palestine remains one of the most challenging and sensitive on the international scene. Decades of occupation, war, and displacement have shaped a reality of suffering and injustice for the Palestinian people.

Recent events, such as the attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, illustrate how cycles of violence and the absence of a lasting solution continue to generate destruction and deepen human suffering.

O International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People serves as a moment of reflection and also as an urgent call for the international community to redouble efforts towards a fair and sustainable solution.

The implementation of the two-state solution, based on international law and United Nations resolutions, is the only viable way to guarantee peace and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis.

Until this solution is achieved, it is essential to continue global solidarity to support the victims of this humanitarian crisis, already dubbed a genocide, to protect human rights, and to demand an end to the occupation and practices that perpetuate suffering in the region. The future of Palestine depends on the collective commitment to achieving justice, freedom, and peaceful coexistence.