Palestinian flag to be displayed at WHO after symbolic vote

Palestinians gained the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization following a vote at the annual assembly in Geneva, supported by 95 member states.

The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a vote on Monday at the agency’s annual assembly in Geneva.

The proposal was brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others and passed with 95 votes in favour, four against — Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany — and 27 abstentions.

It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the U.N. General Assembly last year.

Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels".

Israel opposed the resolution and called for a vote. The United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate.

Nearly 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state. The United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan have not. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal, while Britain abstained.

Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, said: "It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs. I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all U.N. forums."

Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

They currently have observer state status at the WHO. Last week, Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO’s International Health Regulations, a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.

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