The United Nations General Assembly has reaffirmed Syrians’ permanent sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan and Palestinians’ rights to their natural resources, issuing a strong political message on territorial rights and resource ownership under international law.
The resolution reiterates that people living under occupation have the legal right to control and benefit from their land, water, minerals, and other natural assets. It expresses concern over continued restrictions imposed on Syrians and Palestinians, including limited access to water sources, agricultural land, and energy resources—factors that significantly affect economic stability and living conditions.
For the Syrian Golan, the UN restated that annexation is not recognised, and Syrians maintain full sovereign rights over the territory and its resources. For Palestinians, the resolution highlights ongoing challenges related to land use, water extraction, and environmental degradation due to occupation, calling for accountability and respect for international humanitarian law.
While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, this decision carries symbolic and diplomatic weight. It reinforces the global consensus that occupied populations must retain sovereignty over their natural resources and that unilateral actions altering territorial status are not acceptable under international norms.
