The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday calling for an immediate cessation of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The non-binding proposal was approved with a vote of 158 in favor, 9 against, and 13 abstentions, following two days of nearly unanimous speeches urging the end of the ongoing 14-month conflict. The dissenting members were Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, and the United States.
This initiative was proposed by Palestinian Authority representatives after a similar document was blocked in the Security Council on November 20 due to a U.S. veto. The State Department criticized the measure for not including provisions on the release of Israelis held by terrorists in the coastal enclave.
Ahead of the decision, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., Robert Wood, defended Washington’s position, explaining, “At a time when Hamas is feeling isolated due to the ceasefire in Lebanon, the draft resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza risks sending a dangerous message to Hamas that there’s no need to negotiate or release the hostages.”
Jerusalem’s representative, Danny Danon, shared similar concerns, accusing supporters of ignoring the plight of the Jewish state’s captive citizens, around 60 of whom are estimated to still be alive.
“By demanding a ceasefire today without addressing the hostages, this assembly will once again side with those who weaponize human suffering,” Danon said. “It will send a message that the lives of innocent Israelis, including children, are not worth your consideration.”
The outcome marked the first time since the October 2023 war that both Germany and Italy supported ending the hostilities, as the two delegations had previously abstained on the matter. As a result, the U.S. remains the sole G7 nation insisting the release of all detainees be included in any settlement agreement.
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