UN General Assembly overwhelmingly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire over US, Israel opposition

By Iftikhar Ali

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 13 (APP):The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution, by overwhelmingly majority, demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza and aid access, after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week.

Piloted by Spain, the resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan and 47 other states,  garnered  149 votes in favour to  12 against, with 19 abstentions.

Among those opposing the resolution were the United States and Israel, who were joined, among others, by Argentina, Hungary and Paraguay.

India, Georgia, Ecuador, Romania and Ethiopia were among the countries abstaining.

Under its terms,  the resolution strongly condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war, demands a full lifting of the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, and insists on the protection of civilians under international law.

Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant political and moral weight.

On 4 June, the Security Council failed to adopt its draft resolution after a veto by the United States, a permanent member. There is no veto in the 193-member Assembly.

Meanwhile, famine conditions continue to threaten lives across Gaza, and reports persist of civilians being killed or injured while trying to access food at distribution points operated independently of the UN but supported by Israel and the US.

Opening the special session, General Assembly President Philemon Yang said that “the horrors in Gaza must end” after 20 months of war. He criticized the Security Council’s ongoing paralysis and inability to fulfill its core responsibility to uphold peace and security.

He called the situation on the ground “unacceptable”, highlighting the deprivation of food, water and medicine for civilians, the continued captivity of hostages, and the need for urgent international action.

President Yang noted that next week’s high-level meeting in New York on implementing a two-State solution, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, saying it would offer a chance for renewed commitment towards peace in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“We meet here on the 614th day of a full-fledged assault against the Palestinian people,” underscored the Palestinian Ambassado to the UN, Riyad Mansour..

“This illegal, immoral situation cannot continue; it has to stop and stop immediately,” he said, pointing to Israel’s siege against Palestine — “where over 2 million people have been subjected to relentless bombardments, wanton destruction and engineered starvation”.

Israel’s continuing disregard for international law and the positions of States around the world must lead to resolute action and “it has to be done now”,  Ambassador Mansour said, urging Member States to use all tools at their disposal to hold accountable those responsible for crimes and atrocities against an entire people.

He thanked Governments and people around the world “who are standing up for humanity and the defence of the entire nation of Palestine.  “Israel must abide by international law.  It cannot remain the exception to every rule,” he underscored.  “It is the States assembled here — all of you who, through their actions, by translating their legitimate outrage into rightful needs can end this horrific reality,” he said.

However, the United States’ delegate Dorothy  Shea voiced its strong dissent, noting that today’s meeting “marks yet another failure on the part of the United Nations to condemn Hamas”.  She stressed that “any measure that undercuts our ally’s (Israel’s) security is a non-starter for the United States”, urging Member States to “vote against this biased resolution”.

Co-sponsors of resolutions do not take the floor. Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people has been clear and unambiguous: Islamabad stand for their dignity, self-determination, and justice until the full realization of their inalienable rights and establishment of a sovereign, independent and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Key elements of the General Assembly resolution:

— Ceasefire: Calls for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire by all parties;

— Hostages: Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups;

— Implementation: Urges the full and immediate implementation of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024), including the ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchanges, return of displaced persons, and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza;

— International law: Reaffirms that all parties must uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, with particular attention to civilian protection and accountability for violations;

–Starvation as a weapon: Strongly condemns the use of starvation and the denial of aid as tactics of war;

— Humanitarian access: Demands the full, safe and unimpeded delivery of aid – including food, medicine, water, shelter and fuel – throughout Gaza;

— Detention practices: Calls for the humane treatment and release of those arbitrarily detained, and the return of remains;

— ICJ advisory opinion: Recalls the request for an urgent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel’s obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

— End of blockade: Demands Israel immediately lift the blockade on Gaza and open all border crossings for aid deliveries;

— Accountability: Urges Member States to take necessary steps to ensure Israel complies with its international legal obligations;

— UN and humanitarian personnel: Calls for full respect for the work and immunity of UN staff and humanitarian workers;

— Protection of aid workers: Urges both humanitarian and UN bodies to ensure the safety of their personnel, and,

— Medical neutrality: Underscores the duty to protect medical workers, health facilities, and transport routes.