UN Votes for Immediate Ceasefire of Israel in Gaza

(3 Minutes Read)

One hundred forty-nine of the 193 member states voted in favour of the resolution. Drafted by Spain, it “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.” Twelve member states voted against, and 19 abstained. 

More than 20 months into Israel’s offensive against Gaza, the United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unrestricted access to deliver food and aid to 2 million Palestinians in desperate need.

One hundred forty-nine of the 193 member states voted in favour of the resolution. Drafted by Spain, it “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.” Twelve member states voted against, and 19 abstained.

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, addressed the assembly following the vote. He thanked all those who are mobilised to end this horrific tragedy, governments and peoples from across the globe who are standing up for humanity and the defense of the entire nation of Palestine.

Last week, the United States vetoed a similar resolution at the UN Security Council because it was not linked to the release of the hostages. Israel’s UN Ambassador condemned Friday’s vote on the same grounds.

There are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly. But unlike in the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are seen as a barometer of world opinion.

Experts say some 2 million people are at risk of famine if Israel does not fully lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas.

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After a 10-week blockade that barred all aid to Gaza, Israel is allowing the United Nations to deliver a trickle of food assistance and is backing a newly created US aid group, which has opened several sites in the center and south of the territory to deliver food parcels.