UN General Assembly overwhelmingly votes for immediate and sustained ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza
The U.N. General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly voted to approve a measure calling for an immediate “humanitarian truce” in Gaza and demanding “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provisions to aid civilians trapped in the heavily bombarded Palestinian enclave.
The resolution — which passed by a vote of 120-14, with 45 member-states abstaining— is nonbinding but carries political weight.
The United States and Israel were among the 14 nations that voted against the resolution, which calls for a “durable and sustained truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.”
It also condemns “all acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terror and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.”
Friday marked the first formal response by the 193-member body to address the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists earlier this month, and the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip that followed as Israel has intensified its counterattacks.
Following the passing of the resolution, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., accused the intergovernmental organization of holding“not even one ounce of legitimacy,” saying Friday would be “a day that will go down in infamy.”
“The U.N. is committed to ensuring further atrocity,” he added. “According to the family of nations, Israel has no right to defend itself.”
Earlier on Friday, Commissioner-General Philppe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Palestinian relief agency, urged for a humanitarian cease-fire, warning that Gaza was“on the brink of a massive health hazard” as the streets “have started overflowing with sewage.”
“As we speak, people in Gaza are dying,” he said. “They are dying only from bombs and strikes. Soon, many more will die from the consequences of [the] siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.”
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