The Palestinians are expecting a high vote Tuesday for a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza to demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.
Quick Read
- Expectation of High Support for Resolution: The Palestinians anticipate strong global backing for the U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
- Response to U.S. Veto in Security Council: After the U.S. vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council, Arab and Islamic nations requested an emergency General Assembly session to vote on the resolution.
- Nature of General Assembly Resolutions: While not legally binding like Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are significant as they reflect global opinion.
- U.S. Isolation on Cease-fire Stance: The General Assembly vote is expected to highlight the growing isolation of the United States in its stance against a cease-fire demand.
- Biden’s Warning to Israel: President Joe Biden warned that Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza was causing it to lose international support.
- Palestinian Ambassador’s Mobilization Efforts: Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., stated that the resolution is expected to receive more votes than a previous one, emphasizing the global community’s view on the situation.
- Content of the Resolution: The resolution expresses grave concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calls for the protection of civilians, compliance with international humanitarian law, and the immediate release of all hostages.
- Opposition to Amendments: The Arab Group and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation plan to oppose any amendments to the resolution.
- Exclusion of Hamas from Original Resolution: The original resolution does not mention Hamas, which has been involved in the conflict since its attack inside Israel on October 7.
- Proposed Amendments by the U.S. and Austria: The U.S. proposed an amendment to condemn Hamas’ terrorist attacks, and Austria proposed recognizing hostages held by Hamas and other groups, demanding their immediate release.
- Extent of War’s Impact: The conflict has resulted in significant destruction in northern Gaza, thousands of Palestinian deaths, a large percentage of them women and children, and the displacement of a vast portion of the population.
The Associated Press has the story:
Palestinians expect a high vote in UNGA demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (AP)
The Palestinians are expecting a high vote Tuesday for a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza to demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.
After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly to vote on a resolution making the same demand.
Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But the assembly’s messages “are also very important” and reflect world opinion, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday.
The General Assembly vote is expected to reflect the growing isolation of the United States as it refuses to join demands for a cease-fire. More than the United Nations or any other international organization, the United States is seen as the only entity capable of persuading Israel to accept a cease-fire as its closest ally and biggest supplier of weaponry.
In tougher language than usual, though, President Joe Biden warned before the vote that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told U.N. reporters Tuesday that Arab and Islamic ambassadors have been mobilizing support for the resolution and expect it will get a significantly higher number of votes than their Oct. 27 resolution, which called for a “humanitarian truce” leading to a cessation of hostilities. That resolution was the first U.N. reaction to the Gaza war, and the vote was 120-14 with 45 abstentions.
“I think it will send a message to Washington and to others,” Mansour said, adding that a demand from the United Nations, whether it’s the Security Council or the General Assembly, should be looked at as binding. “And Israel has to abide by it, and those who are shielding and protecting Israel until now should also look at it this way, and therefore act accordingly,” he said.
The resolution to be voted on expresses “grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population,” and it says Palestinians and Israelis must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.
It also demands that all parties comply with international humanitarian law, “notably with regard to the protection of civilians,” and calls for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access.”
Mansour said the 22-member Arab Group and 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation will oppose any amendments to the resolution.
The resolution makes no mention of Hamas, whose militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted about 240 in the surprise attack inside Israel on Oct. 7 that set off the war.
One amendment proposed by the United States would add a paragraph stating that the assembly “unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas.”
A second amendment proposed by Austria would add that the hostages are “held by Hamas and other groups” and should be released “immediately.”
The war has brought unprecedented death and destruction, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed according to the Hamas-run health ministry, 70% of them reportedly children and women, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.
