The majority decision of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday was in favour of calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and Hamas as well as the unconditional release of all hostages detained by the terrorist organisation and its backers.
The assembly adopted a resolution calling for “an immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” the unconditional release of all captives, and guarantees of assistance access to Gaza by a vote of 153 countries in favour and 10 against.
Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters, “Today was a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly.” It is our shared responsibility to keep going in this direction until we witness an end to the hostilities and aggression directed at our people. Our responsibility is to save lives.
The text, which was produced by a group of Arab and Muslim nations and was nearly identical to the one the United States vetoed on Friday in the influential 15-nation Security Council, has the support of more than 100 countries.
Washington attempted to have an amendment that denounced the terror attack and hostage-taking by Hamas on October 7th inserted into the assembly’s language. It was rejected by a vote. Austria also suggested adding the phrase “held by Hamas and other groups” before the word “hostages.”
Among the ten countries that voted against the draft resolution were the United States and Austria. The other members of the group were Israel, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay.
Israel’s U.N. envoy Gilad Erdan addressed the gathering, saying, “No piece of paper, especially one that is adopted by a biassed, politicised majority, will prevent Israel from defending itself against those that seek our destruction.” “Israel is engaged in combat to protect her future!”
The General Assembly passed a second resolution in October that demanded assistance access to Gaza and a humanitarian ceasefire. There were 14 votes against it and 121 in favour.
A cease-fire has garnered substantial backing from throughout the world as the number of Palestinian deaths in just over two months of conflict has risen to almost 18,000, the majority of them women and children. Palestinian refugees numbering close to two million people are living in appalling conditions.
During the discussion, over a hundred protestors, including some Orthodox Jews and others flying Palestinian flags, assembled in front of the UN to demand a cease-fire.
In the wake of Israel’s war on Hamas territory in the Gaza Strip and Hamas’ terror attack inside Israel, which claimed the lives of about 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 more, the U.N. Security Council was unable to act decisively to put an end to the carnage, so the General Assembly had to intervene.
Israel and the US mostly by themselves
Israel has stated that a cease-fire would only help terrorists and dismissed mounting international condemnation for its conduct of the war.
According to Erdan, “a cease-fire means one thing and one thing only: ensuring Hamas’ survival.”
The United States has voiced concerns over the rising number of Palestinian deaths and the humanitarian crises, although standing solidly by its ally.
At a news conference on Tuesday during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House, President Joe Biden stated, “We have made it clear to the Israelis, and they are aware that… the safety of innocent Palestinians is still a great concern.”
Therefore, everything they’re doing has to be in line with their efforts to save innocent Palestinian citizens from suffering harm, being killed, going missing, etc.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday, in front of Democratic campaign donors for his 2024 reelection campaign, Biden claimed that support for Israel is beginning to wane globally.
“Netanyahu is a wonderful friend, but I believe he needs to change. According to a White House transcript, Biden said to campaign contributors during an off-camera fundraiser, “This government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move.”
U.S. representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated at the UN that Israel’s self-defense strategy mattered.
She declared, “Israel must prevent the mass eviction of civilians from the southern part of Gaza.” “It must guarantee that individuals who have escaped violence receive enough humanitarian help. Additionally, it must permit Gazan citizens to return home as soon as circumstances permit. As Israel pursues lawful military goals, we will keep up the pressure at the highest levels to ensure both of these things.
Mansour expressed his optimism that Washington would soon utilise its power to convince Israel to halt its war, in response to the growing chorus of voices on the international street demanding a cease-fire.
He told reporters, “I don’t think the U.S. administration can continue to ignore this massive power, which culminated in this afternoon’s General Assembly resolution.”
There was a growing sense of resentment against the United States among a number of nations; several spoke of “double standards” and made veiled references to Washington.
The resolution was supported by South Africa, whose ambassador Mathu Joyini stated, “We cannot proclaim the importance of international law and the importance of the U.N. Charter in some situations and not in others, as if the rule of law only applies to a select few.” “International law must be applied consistently and without bias in order for it to be credible and for us to fulfil our moral obligations.”
Given the widespread killings of Palestinian civilians, Pakistan’s representative denounced attempts by the United States and Austria to change the language to place the blame on Hamas. That effort was seen as biassed.
“When you can kill 18,000 civilians with impunity and enjoy the protection of the Security Council against the action, is this any kind of legitimate self-defense?” Inquiring, Munir Akram subtly alluded to the US as Israel’s council defender.
According to Egypt’s envoy, certain nations demand that wars, acts of aggression, and attacks on people end, and that international law be upheld—but only under certain circumstances.
But regrettably and blatantly, in other circumstances, they ignore these calls, according to Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek. “Especially when they concern the rights of Palestinians to live in security on their land, as an independent state, and to put an end to war crimes committed against them.”
Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not enforceable. The action on Tuesday is unlikely to significantly defuse the situation, but it will increase the pressure from other countries on the United States and Israel.
Patsy Widakuswara, the head of VOA’s White House desk, contributed to this article.
