The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. This resolution, which was largely supported, was rejected by the United States and Israel. The resolution was approved by a vote of 158 in favor, 9 against, and 13 abstentions. It calls for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” as well as the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” This wording is similar to a resolution that the U.S. vetoed in the Security Council last month.
At that time, the U.S. used its veto to protect Israel, which has been in conflict with Hamas in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. The U.S. insists that a ceasefire should be conditional on the release of all hostages, arguing that without this condition, Hamas would have no incentive to free the hostages.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood reiterated this stance, calling it “shameful and wrong” to adopt the resolution. Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, said the resolutions were “illogical,” claiming the vote was not about compassion but complicity.
The General Assembly often debates issues that the Security Council cannot resolve due to internal politics, and this is no exception. The resolution, which is non-binding, also demands immediate humanitarian aid for Gaza’s residents, particularly in the northern region.
Before the vote, numerous UN member states voiced their support for Palestinians. Slovenia’s UN envoy, Samuel Zbogar, stated, “Gaza doesn’t exist anymore. It is destroyed,” while Algeria’s deputy UN ambassador, Nacim Gaouaoui, warned that the “price of silence” regarding the Palestinian tragedy would be heavy.
Hamas’s attack in October 2023 killed 1,208 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza have led to over 44,805 deaths, according to Hamas’s health ministry.
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed the suffering of Gaza’s residents, stating that images of burning children and families without food or hope should urge the world to act. He called for an end to the impunity surrounding the situation and for an immediate ceasefire.
After the vote, he said the UN would continue to press for a ceasefire. The resolution also asks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to explore ways for the UN to ensure accountability for the ongoing situation.
A second resolution, which passed with 159 votes in favor, also called for Israel to respect the mandate of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and allow it to continue its operations. Israel has voted to ban UNRWA starting January 28, accusing some of its employees of involvement in Hamas’s attack.
