With the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voting in favor of a resolution demanding an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, experts said the most important contribution of the Sept 18 decision was “delegitimizing the occupation” and opening room for potential new political discussions amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

But they cautioned that the international community must remain vigilant, as the current conflict could swiftly transform into a more perilous confrontation, following Israel’s declaration of a “new phase of the war” as it takes aim at Hezbollah in Lebanon, expanding from the original goal of eliminating Hamas in the Gaza Strip, stepping up the military campaign despite existing UN resolutions and advisories.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the adoption of the latest UN resolution and thanked the countries which supported it for standing by the Palestinians to achieve their rights, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.

READ MORE: Top UN court: Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal

Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, said "Israel should immediately heed the demand of an overwhelming majority of UN member states”.

Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin in the West Bank, told China Daily that the UNGA vote was “important at this stage because it had put a deadline”.

On Sept 18, the UNGA passed a non-binding resolution demanding an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within a year. The resolution was adopted with 124 votes in favor and 14 against, while 43 members abstained.

“I think the timing is really important because it comes at a time of political deadlock … (with) no political settlement or political bargain to end the war over Gaza,” said Yousef.

“What is crucial and important about this recommendation, I think, (is) it contributes to delegitimizing the occupation and asking Israel clearly to adopt steps in order to end its occupation,” he added.

Further, Yousef said it may encourage many countries to start imposing some restrictions on Israel, redirecting Tel Aviv to go for a fruitful political track or “to open new political horizons in the future”.

Among the nations outside the Middle East that supported the resolution were China, France, Russia, Spain, Japan, Norway and Ireland, while those against included the United States, Israel and Argentina. Among those who abstained were Australia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Yousef highlighted that several European countries voted in favor of the resolution, signaling a shifting position in the European Union on the Palestinian question.

Musab Ibrahim, a police officer in Gaza, told China Daily that the latest development was “a very good step”, but added that the question is whether the world has the “ability to force Israel to abide by the international law and UN Resolutions”. Ibrahim has lost loved ones, including two children, from Israeli strikes.

Arhama Siddiqa, a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in Pakistan, told China Daily that though the UNGA “represents the collective voice of the global community”, its ability to enforce decisions, particularly on contentious issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict, “remains inherently limited”.

Just as the UNGA voted, Israeli political and defense officials indicated that the Israeli army would be pivoting its efforts toward the northern border in a “new phase of the war”, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah of Lebanon, the Times of Israel reported.

“This escalation appears to be a strategic move to draw more countries into the fray, effectively expanding the conflict's geographic scope. The underlying motive, however, aligns closely with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political interests,” said Siddiqa.

“Should the conflict engulf neighboring countries, its flames could easily spread beyond the region… In such a scenario, regional strife would serve as an ignition point for global rivalries, turning a localized conflict into a potential international crisis,” said Siddiqa.

READ MORE: China urges Israel to end unlawful presence in Palestinian territory

The international community, she said, must remain vigilant, for what begins as a regional war could swiftly transform into a broader, more perilous confrontation, driven by the ambitions of both local actors and global powers alike.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed during a meeting of his nation’s advisory body, the Shura Council, on Sept 18 that the Kingdom would not recognize Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

He also strongly condemned the “crimes of the Israeli occupation” against the Palestinian people, and vowed to continue his country’s “tireless work” toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Mike Gu contributed to this report.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com