United Nations General Assembly Set to Vote on Gaza Ceasefire Amid U.S. and Israel Opposition
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is poised to vote on Thursday on a draft resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This move comes after the United States vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council last week.
Despite intense lobbying by Israel urging member states to abstain from what it termed a “politically-motivated, counter-productive charade,” diplomats expect the 193-member Assembly to adopt the resolution with overwhelming support. While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry significant symbolic weight as expressions of global opinion on critical issues.
Unlike the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can veto a resolution, the General Assembly operates on a majority vote without the power of veto. Previous calls by the Assembly for a ceasefire in Gaza have been largely ignored, but advocates hope that increased international pressure might influence the situation on the ground.
The upcoming vote also precedes a UN conference next week aimed at revitalizing efforts toward a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The United States has urged countries to refrain from attending the conference, cautioning that participating in actions perceived as anti-Israel could “be viewed as acting in opposition to U.S. foreign policy interests and could face diplomatic consequences.”
Last week, the U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid access to Gaza. The U.S. argued that the resolution could undermine its own diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire. The other 14 members of the Council voted in favor of the draft amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over two million people are affected, and aid agencies warn of an impending famine.
The draft resolution before the General Assembly demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It emphasizes the necessity of unhindered humanitarian aid access and condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the resolution in a letter to member states, calling it an “immensely flawed and harmful text” that undermines efforts to secure the release of hostages and fails to hold Hamas accountable.
The conflict in Gaza escalated after Hamas militants conducted an attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a military campaign that Gaza health authorities report has resulted in over 5,400 Palestinian deaths. The majority of those killed are said to be civilians, and thousands more are believed to be trapped under rubble.
As the international community watches closely, the UN General Assembly’s vote represents a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and seek a resolution to the conflict.
