United Nations overwhelmingly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire over US, Israel opposition

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly strongly called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and for aid access, following the United States’ veto of a comparable initiative in the Security Council the previous week.

The 193-member General Assembly passed a resolution that calls for the release of hostages in Gaza by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The text garnered 149 votes in favor, while 19 countries abstained and the U.S., Israel and 10 others voted against.

The resolution “strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians … of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supply and access.”

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the General Assembly this was “blood libel.” He had urged countries not to take part in what he said was a “farce” that undermines hostage negotiations and fails to condemn Hamas.

“It must be acknowledged that by failing to condition a ceasefire on the release of the hostages, you told every terrorist organization that abducting civilians works,” he said.

General Assembly resolutions hold no binding power but are significant as a representation of the international perspective on the conflict. Past calls from the organization for an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas have gone unheeded. In the General Assembly, no nation possesses a veto like in the U.N. Security Council.

Libya’s U.N. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni informed the General Assembly prior to the vote that for “those who will press the red button today to oppose this resolution, it will leave a blood stain on their hands.”

Last week, the U.S. rejected a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” along with unrestricted aid access to Gaza, claiming it would weaken U.S.-led initiatives for a ceasefire. The remaining 14 member countries supported the proposal as a humanitarian emergency affects the enclave of over 2 million residents, with the U.N. alerting that famine is imminent and assistance has only gradually arrived since Israel ended an 11-week blockade last month.

The vote took place before a U.N. conference next week that intends to revitalize a global initiative for a two-state resolution between Israel and the Palestinians. The U.S. has called on nations to refrain from participating.

In October 2023, the General Assembly voted 120 in favor of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. In December 2023, 153 nations cast their votes for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire. In December 2024, it called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire with 158 votes supporting it.

The conflict in Gaza has persisted since 2023, following an attack on October 7 by Hamas militants that resulted in 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages brought back to the enclave, based on Israeli reports. A large number of those who died or were taken were non-combatants.

Israel launched a military operation that has resulted in the deaths of more than 54,000 Palestinians, as reported by health officials in Gaza. It is reported that civilians have suffered the most from the assaults, and that thousands of additional bodies remain buried beneath debris.