United Nations, United States — The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, taking the lead from the paralyzed Security Council and increasing pressure on Israel and Washington.
The assembly, comprising all 193 UN member nations, voted 153 in favor of the resolution, surpassing the approximately 140 countries that routinely back resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Ten countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against the resolution, while 23 abstained.
The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, described the vote as marking “a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly.”
Biden warns Netanyahu of losing global support over Gaza bombing Washington, United States -- US President Joe Biden has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risked losing global support in its war against Hamas due to its "indiscriminate" bombing in Gaza. In his most direct comments since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, which sparked the current conflict, Biden told donors that Netanyahu needed to "change" his approach to a two-state solution for the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Netanyahu acknowledged a "disagreement" with Biden over the governance of a post-conflict Gaza, highlighting a rare rift after weeks of strong US support for Israel. Biden, speaking at a campaign event in Washington, noted that Israel initially had "most of the world supporting it" following the Hamas attacks. "But they're starting to lose that support due to the indiscriminate bombing that is happening," Biden remarked. Previously, Biden had refrained from labeling the Israeli bombing as "indiscriminate." Later Tuesday, at a news conference, Biden moderated his comments, stating that while the United States must support Israel in response to the brutality of the October 7 attacks, "the safety of innocent Palestinians remains a significant concern." He also announced that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would be sent to Israel this week for discussions with the war cabinet. The US president also countered arguments he attributed to Netanyahu, comparing Allied forces in World War II, who had "carpet-bombed" Germany and used nuclear weapons against Japan. Biden highlighted that international institutions were established post-war to prevent such actions from recurring, and he reiterated that the United States had made "mistakes" following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York. "He's a good friend, but I think he needs to change, and with this government, it's very difficult for him to make a move," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu. "They don't want a two-state solution," he added, labeling it as "the most conservative government in Israel's history." His comments highlight a growing divide over the aftermath of the war, with US calls for Gaza to be handed over to a strengthened Palestinian Authority receiving a lukewarm response in Israel. Currently, the Palestinian Authority governs the West Bank, while the Islamist group Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, following a conversation with Biden, acknowledged a "disagreement" between the allies concerning "the day after Hamas." The Israeli Prime Minister expressed hope for reaching an agreement but vowed not to "repeat the mistake of Oslo," referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States. Washington has been urging Israel for weeks to take greater care in avoiding civilian casualties in Gaza, highlighting that too many Palestinians have been killed. In the United States, an increasing number of voices, particularly from the left wing of the Democratic Party, have been urging Biden to adopt a stronger stance toward his Israeli ally and even to condition U.S. military aid. Biden echoed similar concerns about Israel losing global support during a ceremony at the White House on Monday to mark the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. "We have to be careful. They have to be careful. The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight; we can't let that happen," he cautioned the attendees.
The vote followed repeated failures by the Security Council, which is responsible for global peace and security, to issue such a call.
On Friday, the United States, Israel’s most powerful ally and one of only five permanent members of the Security Council, used its veto to block the latest draft text calling for a truce.
The Council took more than a month after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas members to issue a statement, calling in mid-November for humanitarian “pauses” in the conflict after rejecting four earlier texts.
Egypt’s ambassador to the UN, Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud, criticized Washington’s efforts to provide Israel with diplomatic cover ahead of the General Assembly vote, calling them “despicable” and indicative of “double standards.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a looming “complete breakdown of public order” in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Many countries and human rights organizations condemned the Security Council’s failure last Friday, and on Sunday, Guterres described the Council’s authority and credibility as “undermined.”
#unvote
— TRENDS (@mena_trends) December 12, 2023
Among the voters, 10 countries including the #UnitedStates and #Israel opposed the resolution, while 23 nations abstained. @UN @pmofa @Israel @StateDept #Gaza #ceasefire pic.twitter.com/wq2WeOO13K
“We agree the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Washington’s ambassador to the UN, ahead of Tuesday’s vote. “It’s the diplomacy that the United States is engaging in on the ground that made that week-long humanitarian pause possible,” she added, referring to the only lull in the fighting so far, which occurred last month.
Thomas-Greenfield urged countries to support an amendment to Tuesday’s resolution that would have condemned Hamas, but this proposal was voted down.
She also called on Israel “to avoid mass displacement of civilians in the south of Gaza,” while asserting that Israel was pursuing “legitimate military objectives.”
We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza… The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.
Joint statement by the leaders of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand
Ahead of the vote, Israel’s representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized what he called a “hypocritical resolution.”
“Not only does it fail to condemn Hamas for its crimes against humanity, it doesn’t even mention Hamas,” he stated.
‘Catastrophic’
Israeli air and land attacks continue to strike Gaza, more than two months after the bloody and unprecedented attack by Hamas fighters on Israeli soil on October 7.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis were reportedly killed in the initial attack, while the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 18,400 Palestinians have died in Israel’s bombardment since then.
We agree the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. It’s the diplomacy that the United States is engaging in on the ground that made that week-long humanitarian pause possible.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN
Arab countries had called for the new special session of the General Assembly, seeking to build pressure just after a visit to the Rafah border point by more than a dozen Security Council ambassadors.
The text that was passed on Tuesday largely reproduced the resolution that the United States had blocked in the Council on Friday.
Expressing concern about the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” it “demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” and calls for the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the “immediate and unconditional” release of all hostages.
At A Glance * UN General Assembly votes for a ceasefire in Gaza, overshadowing Security Council's inaction. * A total of 153 of 193 member nations support the resolution, more than those condemning Russia's Ukraine invasion. * US and Israel among 10 countries opposing the resolution; 23 countries abstain. * Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour hails the vote as a "historic day" with a "powerful message." * Security Council's failure to call for a ceasefire noted; US veto on truce draft highlighted. * Egyptian ambassador criticizes US for "despicable" diplomatic support of Israel. * UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns of a "complete breakdown of public order" in Gaza. * Israeli representative Gilad Erdan labels the resolution "hypocritical," citing failure to condemn Hamas. * Over 1,200 Israelis and 18,400 Palestinians reported dead since conflict's escalation. * Arab countries initiate special General Assembly session amid escalating conflict. * Resolution calls for "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and protection of civilians in Gaza.
Before the vote, the prime ministers of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand — close allies of Israel as well as the United States — issued a joint statement saying, “we are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza.”
“The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians,” they emphasized.
(With agency inputs)