United Nations member states will today debate a draft resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories within 12 months, AFP reports.

Although General Assembly resolutions are not binding, Israel has already denounced the new text as “disgraceful”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP that “nothing justifies” the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

“We all condemn the terror attacks made by Hamas, as well as the taking of the hostages, that is an absolute violation of international humanitarian law,” he said.

“But the truth is that nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and that is what we are witnessing in a dramatic way in Gaza.”