The UN General Assembly adopted this Tuesday with an overwhelming majority of 153 votes in favor, ten against and 23 abstentions, a resolution that ““Immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in GazaAccording to a report by the EFE agency, this is a far greater result than the one recorded on November 28, which called for a cessation of hostilities.
Among the countries that voted against, in addition to Israel and the USAthere were some European nations (Austria, Czech Republic), in addition to small Pacific countries, Guatemala and Paraguaywhile it was found for the first time among the teetotalers Argentinawho agreed with the position of Italy, Germany and Ukraine.
At the end of the vote, many countries applauded the result, which received significantly more support (153 compared to 120 last time). this international call for a ceasefireeven if the votes of the assembly are not binding.
This Tuesday's resolution was “minimal” and focused on calling for a ceasefire before “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian people,” although it also included an appealFree all hostagesand didn't mention it Islamist group Hamas by his name.
Before the actual resolution, the Assembly rejected two amendments they tried to introduce Austria and the USAin the first case, to explicitly condemn the attacks of the armed wing of Hamas on October 7th, and in the second a condemnation of the sexual violence allegedly committed should also be introduced Hamas members in this attack and in the treatment of their hostages.
This vote was requested by two groups of countries, the Arab and the Islamic, after the US vetoed it last Friday almost similar content resolution and which was supported by 13 of the 15 members of the Security Council but could not be implemented after the US veto.
According to UN regulations, a resolution is required every time vetoed in the Councilwill be discussed in the meeting at the request of at least two members.
At the meeting, Assembly Speaker Dennis Francis, who normally confines himself to procedural interventions without expressing his opinion, took the floor at the start of the meeting and announced: “I wonder.” How many thousands more lives must be lost? before we do anything. There's no time left. This slaughter must stop. “That is why I join the call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”
The United States, an ally of Israel, justified its opposition by saying, in the words of its UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, “someone.” Stop the fire Right now it would be temporary at best, worst case scenario dangerous for Israeliswho would be subjected to merciless attacks, and also dangerous for the Palestinians who deserve the opportunity a better future, free from Hamas“.
Thomas Greenfield regretted that his country could not support “a biased Security Council or something like that.” General meeting that ignores everything we defend.”
The same ideas were shared by Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who went further and said: “All those who support this resolution.” They give the terrorists a free hand(Because) a ceasefire means only one thing: the survival of Hamas.”
He added that resolutions of this kind make the UN “a…” moral stain on humanity“, adding to its irrelevance.