UN General Assembly votes in favour of ceasefire in enclave

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war after the US vetoed the same call at a Security Council meeting last week.

The resolution, which was proposed in the name of 22 Arab countries, was co-sponsored by more than 100 states. It was approved on Tuesday with 153 votes in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions.

UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, and primarily serve as symbolic expressions of global sentiment.

The resolution contained words of concern at the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip”, demanded “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” and called for the protection of civilians, access for humanitarian aid, and the “immediate and unconditional” release of all hostages.

“Today was a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly. And it is our collective duty to continue in this path until we see an end to this aggression against our people,” said Palestine’s UN envoy Riyad Mansour.

“This draft resolution demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Let me repeat, demands … it does not call for or urge … it demands.”

An amendment proposed by the US, which condemned “the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas” on October 7, and an Austrian amendment stating that hostages in Gaza are “held by Hamas and other groups”, failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass.

“Any ceasefire right now would be temporary at best, and dangerous at worst,” said US envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Mansour accused the US of politicising the issue. “We are determined that we will not allow such amendments to succeed. We will oppose them,” he said.

The US and Israel oppose a ceasefire, believing it would only benefit Hamas.

Washington instead supports extended humanitarian pauses in fighting to protect civilians and allow the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack.

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 favour, 14 against – including the US – and 44 abstentions.

Israel has said it will continue its operation in Gaza until all hostages are released and Hamas is destroyed.

But the International Crisis Group has issued a report that says destroying Hamas “will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza”.

“The human toll is already almost unimaginable,” it added. “The longer the campaign drags on, the graver the danger it triggers a wider Middle East war.”

US President Joe Biden warned on Tuesday that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.

“Israel’s security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them,” Mr Biden said during a re-election fund-raising event.

“They’re starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”

Amendments proposed by the US and Austria condemning Hamas did not secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass