International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/32/40B
About International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a United Nations observance held on or around 29 November each year. It was established by the General Assembly in 1977 and first observed in 1978.
The observance is part of the UN’s long-running institutional work on the question of Palestine. A factual guide should distinguish the history and mandate of the UN day from advocacy positions taken by governments, organizations or participants.
Why International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People matters
The Day provides a recurring UN forum for statements, meetings, information activities and cultural events concerning the Palestinian people and the unresolved question of Palestine.
Because the subject is politically contested and connected to an ongoing conflict, responsible coverage should use precise institutional language, distinguish resolutions from later political claims, and avoid presenting disputed assertions as settled fact.
History of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
On 2 December 1977, the General Assembly adopted resolution 32/40 B, which provided for annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People beginning in 1978.
The first International Day was observed on 29 November 1978 at United Nations Headquarters, in Geneva and in a number of Member States.
The date recalls 29 November 1947, when the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), commonly known as the Partition Resolution. Current observances are organized under the leadership of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, with support from the Division for Palestinian Rights.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution 32/40 B
First documented observance
The UN special bulletin for 1978 explicitly describes the first International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 1978.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, supported by the UN Division for Palestinian Rights
The Committee’s current programme of work directs the annual special meeting and the Division provides substantive and organizational support.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Read the establishing and current UN resolutions before summarizing the observance’s mandate.
Use primary UN records to distinguish institutional history from political commentary about current events.
If organizing a discussion, include historical context, international-law literacy and careful sourcing rather than slogans alone.
Avoid dehumanizing language about Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, Muslims or any other group when discussing the observance or the conflict.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Facts
The Day is observed on or around 29 November.
General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 created the annual observance beginning in 1978.
The first International Day was observed on 29 November 1978.
29 November recalls the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution 181 (II) in 1947.
The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People holds an annual special meeting for the observance.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Messages
On International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
May International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Quotes
“The Palestinian people have a right to dignity, to justice, and to self-determination.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations — 1978 first-observance bulletin (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day background and General Assembly mandates (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — 2026 Committee Programme of Work (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People?
29 November The documented recurrence rule is: 29 November.
Does International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, supported by the UN Division for Palestinian Rights.
Is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was the International Day established?
The General Assembly established the annual observance through resolution 32/40 B, adopted on 2 December 1977, with observance beginning in 1978.
Why is 29 November used?
The date was chosen because 29 November 1947 was the day the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), known as the Partition Resolution.
Who organizes the UN observance?
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People holds the annual special meeting, supported by the UN Division for Palestinian Rights.
Other observances on November 29
These observances are also listed on November 29, 2026.
International Shift Worker Sunday
Deputy launched International Shift Worker Sunday in 2022 and describes it as an annual celebration on the last Sunday of November; its 2025 release calls that year the fourth annual event.