New York, United States - September 09, 2024

Storyline:
Palestine's pursuit of full membership in the United Nations has not reached a dead end as the final decision has not been made, said the president of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV), Dennis Francis, president of the 78th Session of the UNGA, said the Security Council is following the necessary procedures to evaluate Palestine's application.

Francis said the General Assembly (GA) will not pressure the Security Council on Palestine's full membership.

In the Security Council vote on April 18, the resolution supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member was vetoed by the United States, as a permanent member of the Security Council.

On May 10, the 10th Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. The resolution recommended that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.

According to the UN Charter, the admission of new members must be approved by both the Security Council and the General Assembly. General Assembly resolutions are not binding on member states, but are an expression of the international will, which will be implemented by UN bodies.

Shotlist:
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - July 24, 2024:
1. United Nations (UN) headquarters, national flags;
2. UN flag;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Sept 9, 2024:
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dennis Francis, president, 78th Session of UN General Assembly (partially overlaid with shots 4-5):
"The overwhelming majority of member states in the General Assembly voted in favor of the resolution for Palestine to become a full member state of the United Nations and of the General Assembly. But since the Security Council had not itself pronounced on that, under the rules of procedure, the General Assembly sent it back to the Security Council. We must now wait to see what the Security Council's decision will be, so I don't accept that it's a dead end. We must await the response of the Security Council. So let us give the council the opportunity and space to study the matter based on the results of the vote in the assembly and come up with its own response."
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Interview in progress;
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown:
5. Various of UN flag, logo;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Gaza Strip - Recent:
6. Various of destroyed buildings;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Sept 9, 2024:
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dennis Francis, president, 78th Session of UN General Assembly (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"The GA doesn't seek to put pressure. The GA acts in its own deliberate judgment, and they have, by voting overwhelmingly in support of Palestine being designated as a full member state of the United Nations. The consequences of that would be for us to see."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Interview in progress;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Gaza Strip - Aug 12, 2024:
9. Various of damaged buildings.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]