The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and towns and stressed the need for access to those areas for medical and relief organisations.
The resolution, drafted by European Union and Palestinian envoys and approved 114-4 with 11 abstentions, marked a major victory for the Palestinians, who softened an earlier draft harshly critical of Israel to broaden support among the General Assembly's 189 member-nations.
The resolution expressed concern over Israel's occupation of Palestinian cities and the "dire humanitarian situation" facing the Palestinian people.
Although it fell short of an initial EU demand for explicit condemnation of Palestinian suicide bombings, the resolution condemned "all attacks against civilians on both sides".
The vote capped a day-long debate on a UN report released last week regarding the March 29th Israeli military thrust into the Jenin refugee camp following a wave of suicide bombings inside Israel.
The report, prompted by Palestinian allegations of a massacre in the West Bank camp, found no evidence that a massacre took place but said Israel had used excessive force in densely populated areas and kept out medical and aid workers.
Prepared from publicly available information at the General Assembly's request after Israel blocked a UN fact-finding mission from visiting Jenin, the report also faulted the Palestinians for letting armed fighters live in civilian homes in the camp.