The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war after more than three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly backed the move, which had been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week. Washington does not have a veto in the General Assembly. It voted against the draft resolution, along with Israel and eight other countries. The text garnered 153 votes in favor, while 23 countries abstained from the vote. The resolution was presented to the United Nations General Assembly by the Egyptian and the Mauritanian ambassadors to the U.N.
Quick Read
- General Assembly Demands Ceasefire: The U.N. General Assembly demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
- Vote Results: The resolution received strong support with 153 votes in favor. The United States, Israel, and eight other countries voted against it, while 23 countries abstained. The resolution was presented to the United Nations General Assembly by the Egyptian and the Mauritanian ambassadors to the U.N.
- No U.S. Veto in General Assembly: Unlike in the Security Council, the U.S. does not have veto power in the General Assembly.
- Nature of General Assembly Resolutions: While not legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are significant for reflecting global opinion.
- U.S. Position on the Ceasefire: U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the U.S. supported aspects of the resolution but believed an immediate ceasefire could be temporary and potentially dangerous.
- Biden’s Comments on Israel’s Actions: President Joe Biden commented that Israel is losing international support due to its “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza.
- Casualties in Gaza: According to Gaza’s health ministry, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians and nearly 50,000 injuries.
- Hostage Situation: The resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and compliance with international law, especially regarding civilian protection.
- Failed Amendments: Attempts by the United States and Austria to amend the resolution to explicitly condemn Hamas’ actions did not pass.
- Pakistan’s Stance Against Naming Hamas: Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador argued against blaming only one party, emphasizing the need to address Israel’s actions as well.
- Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: The United Nations has reported a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a large portion of the population displaced and facing starvation.
- U.S. and Israel’s Opposition to Ceasefire: Both the U.S. and Israel argue that a ceasefire would benefit Hamas, preferring pauses in fighting for civilian protection and hostage release.
- Israel’s U.N. Ambassador’s Statement: Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan argued that a ceasefire would equate to a “death sentence” for more Israelis and Gazans, claiming it would support the survival of what he described as “Jihadist terror.”
Reuters has the story:
UN overwhelmingly OKs resolution demanding humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (Reuters)
The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war after more than three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly backed the move, which had been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week.
Washington does not have a veto in the General Assembly. It voted against the draft resolution, along with Israel and eight other countries. The text garnered 153 votes in favor, while 23 countries abstained from the vote. The resolution was presented to the United Nations General Assembly by the Egyptian and the Mauritanian ambassadors to the U.N.
General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the General Assembly before the vote that there were aspects of the resolution that the U.S. supported, such as the need to urgently address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, protect civilians and free hostages.
But she added: “Any ceasefire right now would be temporary at the best and dangerous at worst – dangerous to Israelis, who would be subject to relentless attacks, and also dangerous to Palestinians, who deserve the chance to build a better future for themselves, free from Hamas.”
Before the U.N. vote, U.S. President Joe Biden told a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign that Israel was losing international support because of “indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”
Israel has bombarded Gaza from the air, imposed a siege and launched a ground offensive in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and saw 240 people taken hostage. Gaza’s health ministry says 18,205 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 50,000 wounded.
The General Assembly resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and that the warring parties comply with international law, specifically with regard to the protection of civilians.
‘DEATH SENTENCE’
An attempt by the United States to amend the text to include a rejection and condemnation of “the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas … and the taking of hostages” and a bid by Austria to add that the hostages were being held by Hamas both failed to get the two-thirds majority support needed to pass.
Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram argued against both the proposed amendments to name Hamas, saying that any blame “has to be placed on both parties, especially on Israel.”
“When you deny people freedom and dignity, when you humiliate and trap them in an open air prison, where you kill them as if they were beasts – they become very angry and they do to others what was done to them,” he told the General Assembly.
Most of the 2.3 million people in Gaza have been driven from their homes and the United Nations has given dire warnings about the humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave, saying that hundreds of thousands of people are starving.
The United States and Israel oppose a ceasefire because they believe it would only benefit Hamas. Washington instead supports pauses in fighting to protect civilians and allow the release of hostages taken by Palestinian militants on Oct. 7.
“A ceasefire means one thing and one thing only – ensuring the survival of Hamas, ensuring the survival of genocidal terrorists committed to the annihilation of Israel and Jews,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said ahead of the vote.
“A ceasefire is a death sentence for countless more Israelis and Gazans,” he told the General Assembly. “By voting in favor of this resolution you are supporting the survival of Jihadist terror and the continued suffering of people of Gaza.”
In October the General Assembly called for “an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in a resolution adopted with 121 votes in favor, 14 against – including the U.S. – and 44 abstentions.
