On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution also strongly condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war by Israel in Gaza, where nearly the entire population is facing acute food insecurity.
Backed by over 20 Member States, the resolution came just days after the UN Security Council failed to pass a similar text due to a veto from the United States, a permanent member of the Council.
This time, 149 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 12 opposed it — including the United States, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, and Paraguay. Nineteen nations abstained, among them India, Georgia, Ecuador, Romania, and Ethiopia. Haiti did not cast a vote.
Opening the special session, General Assembly President Philémon Yang denounced the “ongoing paralysis” of the Security Council, stating it had failed in its primary responsibility to maintain peace and security.
“The horrors in Gaza must end,” he declared, describing an “unacceptable” situation marked by widespread deprivation of food, water, and medicine, the prolonged captivity of hostages, and ongoing violence.
Yang also emphasized the importance of next week’s high-level meeting in New York on implementing the two-State solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, calling it “a crucial opportunity to rekindle the commitment to peace in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Although largely symbolic, the resolution carries significant political and moral weight for Palestinians, especially given that all veto-holding Security Council members except the United States supported it. A historic move by the UN General Assembly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The vote also marks a diplomatic blow for the United States, now more isolated than ever on the international stage.
Countries traditionally considered close allies — and typically aligned with the U.S. — chose this time to vote against the world’s leading power, which continues to offer unwavering support to Israel despite its ongoing military actions in Gaza that have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, following Hamas-led attacks in Israel that killed more than 1,200 people.
Though not legally binding, the resolution underscores growing global outrage and outlines several key demands:
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Immediate and permanent ceasefire by all parties involved.
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Unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups.
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Full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2735, including the exchange of hostages and prisoners, return of displaced persons, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
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Strong condemnation of starvation as a method of warfare and a demand for the complete lifting of Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid.
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Unrestricted humanitarian access for food, medicine, water, fuel, and shelter.
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Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, especially regarding the protection of civilians and accountability for violations.
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Protection of medical and humanitarian workers and health infrastructure.
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Respect for the status and immunity of UN personnel.
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Return of remains and release of arbitrarily detained individuals.
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Call on Member States to ensure Israel complies with its international legal obligations.
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Reminder of the ICJ advisory opinion request on Israel’s legal responsibilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
On the ground, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate rapidly. Near-famine conditions now threaten the lives of thousands of civilians, while numerous reports indicate that people have been injured or killed while attempting to access food from distribution points not managed by the UN but supported by the United States and Israel.
“We demand full, safe, and uninterrupted humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip,” the resolution states.
It also calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade on Gaza and to open all border crossings to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, it urges the international community to take all necessary steps to ensure Israel’s compliance with its international legal obligations.
As the Security Council remains deadlocked, the General Assembly has now assumed the moral and political leadership of the international community. As Assembly President Philémon Yang concluded:
“Inaction is no longer an option in the face of human suffering.”
