The U.N. General Assembly has scheduled a vote on a resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza leading to a cease-fire of hostilities between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador Ayman Safadi, speaking on behalf of the U.N.’s 22-nation Arab group which drafted the resolution, called for a 3 p.m. EDT vote Friday, before all 112 speakers get to the assembly’s rostrum, because of the urgency of taking action. The Arab group is seeking action by the 193-member world body because of the failure of the more powerful 15-member U.N. Security Council to agree on a resolution after four attempts. Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly so the resolution is certain to be adopted. But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not. They do, however, serve as an important barometer of world opinion.
Quick Read
- The U.N. General Assembly has scheduled a vote on a resolution for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, aiming for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
- The vote is set for 3 p.m. EDT Friday, with Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador Ayman Safadi pushing for an early vote due to the situation’s urgency.
- The Arab group, representing the U.N.’s 22-nation Arab bloc, initiated the resolution because the U.N. Security Council failed to agree after four attempts.
- Resolutions in the General Assembly aren’t legally binding but reflect global opinion. They are expected to pass since there are no vetoes.
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Israel to pursue peace and warned against escalating violence.
- Fidan emphasized that peace and security for Israel require recognizing Palestinian rights.
- Fidan stated that Turkey views Hamas as a political party within the Palestinian state system but does not condone the killing of civilians.
- American humanitarian organization, Project HOPE, has medical supplies ready in Egypt, near the Rafah border crossing, to support interventions and provide basic medical supplies.
- Project HOPE is prepared to send Arabic-speaking medical teams from Morocco and Jordan to assist in the Gaza Strip or to aid individuals leaving Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
UNGA schedules vote on ‘Humanitarian Truce’ resolution in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS
The U.N. General Assembly has scheduled a vote on a resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza leading to a cease-fire of hostilities between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador Ayman Safadi, speaking on behalf of the U.N.’s 22-nation Arab group which drafted the resolution, called for a 3 p.m. EDT vote Friday, before all 112 speakers get to the assembly’s rostrum, because of the urgency of taking action.
The Arab group is seeking action by the 193-member world body because of the failure of the more powerful 15-member U.N. Security Council to agree on a resolution after four attempts.
Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly so the resolution is certain to be adopted. But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not. They do, however, serve as an important barometer of world opinion.
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER PLEADS WITH ISRAEL TO HEED CALLS FOR PEACE
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan appealed to Israel on Friday to “heed Turkey’s call for peace,” warning that the country could find itself in a growing spiral of violence.
Speaking during a joint news conference with Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Fidan said: “Humanity is at a crossroads. Either there will be a great war that will spread all over the world, or a great peace will emerge.”
Fidan continued: “Ignoring the existence of the Palestinians, ignoring the rights of the Palestinians, and applying pressure and cruelty to the Palestinians have not — and will not — bring peace to Israel. If Israel wants to be in peace and security, it must respect the right of the Palestinians to live their own state on their own land.”
Fidan said Turkey regards Hamas as a political party “that is part of the Palestinian state system,” but added that this did not mean that Ankara “accepts the killing of civilians.”
US HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION SAYS IT HAS MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND OTHER RESOURCES WAITING IN EGYPT
NEW YORK — The American humanitarian organization, Project HOPE, says it has had primary health care, surgical and emergency medical supplies positioned in Egypt near the Rafah border crossing for over a week. Those now include emergency surgical equipment designed to support 700 interventions and basic medical supplies to support some 60,000 people for three months.
Arlan Fuller, head of the nonprofit’s emergency response, said the organization is also ready to send Arabic-speaking medical teams from partner organizations in Morocco and Jordan, as soon as they would be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip or treat people coming out of Gaza.
