The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza and aid access, after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week.
The 193-member General Assembly adopted a resolution that also demands the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
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Votes of the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, during an emergency session at the UN headquarters in New York
(Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
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 a "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.
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Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon holds photo of two Israeli hostages as he speaks to the General Assembly before a vote on a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza
(Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry weight as a reflection of the global view on the war. Previous demands by the body for an end to the war between Israel and Palestinian terror group Hamas have been ignored. Unlike the U.N. Security Council, no country has a veto in the General Assembly.
Libya's U.N. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni told the General Assembly before the vote that for "those pressing the red button today to vote against this resolution (it) will become a blood stain on their fingers."
The U.S. last week vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that also demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" and unhindered aid access in Gaza, arguing it would undermine U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire.
The other 14 member states voted in favor of the draft as a humanitarian crisis grips the enclave of more than 2 million people, where the U.N. warns famine looms and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade last month.
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Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the General Assembly before the vote that the resolution "does nothing to free the hostages, improve the lives of civilians in Gaza, or bring us closer to a ceasefire, and is yet another performative action that erodes the credibility of this body."
The vote came ahead of a U.N. conference next week that aims to reinvigorate an international push for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The U.S. has urged countries not to attend.
In October 2023, the General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza with 120 votes in favor. In December 2023, 153 countries voted to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Then in December 2024, it demanded - with 158 votes in favor - an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.