The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved two resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. The votes were 158-9, with 13 abstentions, calling for a ceasefire now, and 159-9, with 11 abstentions, supporting the agency known as UNRWA.
The resolutions come after two days of speeches from world leaders calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group. The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution on November 20 demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire.
U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood criticized the Palestinian leadership for failing to mention Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, saying it risks sending a message to Hamas that there’s no need to negotiate or release the hostages. However, other speakers emphasized the need for action, with Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar stating that “Gaza doesn’t exist anymore” and that civilians are facing hunger, despair, and death.
The resolutions mirror the text of a vetoed Security Council resolution, demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties, as well as the release of all hostages. The language is stronger than previous resolutions adopted in October 2023, which called for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.
The U.N. Secretary-General’s statements that UNRWA is “the backbone” of all humanitarian operations in Gaza were reaffirmed, and the resolution calls on Israel to abide by its international obligations and respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA. The resolution also rejects any effort to starve Palestinians and demands immediate access to civilians to provide aid indispensable to their survival.
The U.S. is one of the few countries opposing the resolutions, with Germany and Italy abstaining last December but voting in favor of a Gaza ceasefire this time.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world