UN General Assembly Calls for Urgent Gaza Ceasefire

Israel is facing increasing diplomatic isolation in its war against Hamas as the United Nations has demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire, with three-quarters of member states voting in favour. The answer is not binding but carries political weight, reflecting a global view of the war. The United States and Israel, which argue that a ceasefire only benefits Hamas, voted against the measure along with eight other countries.

The conflict has resulted in a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with dire warnings from U.N. officials. The Gaza health ministry reports that Israel’s assault on Gaza to root out Hamas has killed at least 18,205 Palestinians, including many children, and wounded nearly 50,000 since October 7.

The conflict has also led to starvation, displaced 85% of the population from their homes, and caused diseases to spread, according to the U.N. and Gaza health ministry.

The leaders of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, in a joint statement, have called for a ceasefire, saying that “The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.” The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution and urged countries to pressure Israel to comply.

A Hamas official in exile, Izzat El-Reshiq, in a statement on Telegram, echoed that reaction, saying Israel should “stop its aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against our people.”

Before the resolution, U.S. President Biden said Israel now has support from “most of the world”, including the U.S. and European Union, for its fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, he also stated that Israel needed to change its hardline government and ultimately “can’t say no” to an independent Palestinian state, something that Israeli hardliners oppose.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel this week, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit the Middle East next week. Biden said Sullivan will emphasize the U.S. commitment to Israel as well as the need to protect civilian lives in Gaza.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan argued that a ceasefire would only ensure the survival of Hamas, “genocidal terrorists committed to the annihilation of Israel and Jews.” Netanyahu’s hardline government has been criticized for its indiscriminate bombing, which has led to the loss of support from the U.S. and European Union. Israel declared 19 of 134 people still in captivity in Gaza dead in absentia after the bodies of two hostages were recovered.

The U.N. resolution, passed by a wider margin than a similar U.N. measure in October, got 153 votes in favour, 10 against, and 23 abstentions, indicating weakening support for Israel. Despite the resolution’s lack of binding power, it reflects a global view of the war and puts increasing pressure on Israel to comply with calls for a ceasefire.