PALESTINE: UN General Assembly to vote on ‘unconditional’ ceasefire in Gaza

The UN General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture after the United States vetoed a similar action in the UN Security Council. Late last month, Washington used its veto power on the Council — as it has before — to protect […]

The UN General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture after the United States vetoed a similar action in the UN Security Council.

Late last month, Washington used its veto power on the Council — as it has before — to protect its ally Israel, which has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

It blocked the Council’s attempt to call for a ceasefire, saying a link between a ceasefire and a release of all hostages had to be maintained.

This time in the Assembly, the draft resolution, which would be non-binding if approved, calls for both “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,” and “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

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The resolution also demands “immediate access” to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, especially in the besieged north of the territory.

The General Assembly has regularly offered its support to the Palestinians, and often finds itself taking up measures that cannot get through the Security Council, which has been largely paralyzed on hot-button issues such as Gaza and Ukraine.

During the debate before the vote, which is due to take place at about 3:00 pm (2000 GMT), those who spoke largely backed the draft.