UN General Assembly passes resolution for Gaza ceasefire
The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution urging for an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, Al-Monitor reported on June 12th.
It urges every UN member state to take “all measures necessary” to compel Israel to meet its obligations under international law. This comes after the United States vetoed a similar Security Council initiative, leaving the General Assembly to act where the Council could not.
The resolution passed with overwhelming support: 149 in favour, 12 opposed, and 19 abstentions. It also calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken during the October 7th 2023 Hamas attack.
This resolution explicitly demands that Israel lift its blockade and allow full humanitarian access to Gaza, where the population now faces a devastating humanitarian crisis.
It accuses Israel, as the occupying power, of obstructing aid and insists that member states intervene to enforce compliance. The resolution condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war and denounces any obstruction of humanitarian access as unlawful. The move follows the UN raising the alarm that Israeli attacks on schools is “extermination,” Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on June 11th.
The momentous decision also comes at a time that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, narrowly surviving a vote from his opposition which would have seen the Israeli Parliament dissolve, according to Al-Monitor on June 11th.
Danny Danon, Israel’s envoy, rejected the motion, describing it as “a farce” and “a political stunt.” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour welcomed the vote but pressed countries to act beyond words. He said: “No arms, no money, no trade to oppress Palestinians.”
Despite partially lifting its blockade, Israel has allowed only limited aid to enter through the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The UN refuses to cooperate with the GHF, over concerns about its neutrality.
Deadly incidents have occurred near GHF aid distribution points, with Gaza’s civil defence agency blaming Israeli forces for the deaths of Gazans near an aid site, the BBC reported on June 1st. GHF also blamed Hamas for the deaths of eight of its staff, Al-Jazeera reported on June 12th.
The resolution text closed by reaffirming the UN’s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution.
Al-Monitor, BBC, Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye via Reuters
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