The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on Wednesday on a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution is symbolic, following the United States’ veto of a similar measure in the UN Security Council.
The draft resolution demands “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” These provisions aim to address concerns from the US and other staunch allies of Israel.
Though non-binding, the resolution also emphasizes “immediate access” to humanitarian aid for Gaza’s residents, who have endured over a year of war, particularly in the heavily besieged north of the territory.
The ongoing conflict was ignited by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which left 1,208 people dead, primarily civilians, according to AFP’s tally based on official data. This number includes hostages killed or who died in captivity. Militants also abducted 251 hostages, of whom 96 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the military.
In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 44,786 people, mostly civilians, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
“Gaza today is the bleeding heart of Palestine,” said Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour during last week’s General Assembly debate. He urged action to end the conflict, condemning the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
“The images of our children burning in tents, with no food in their bellies and no hopes and no horizon for the future, should haunt the conscience of the world and prompt action to end this nightmare,” Mansour stated, while also calling for an end to “impunity.”
On the other hand, Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon criticized the resolution, stating, “If you truly want peace, it begins with dismantling this infrastructure of hate and the glorification of terror.” Danon’s remarks referred to UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel accuses of aiding Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
The resolution asks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to propose mechanisms to ensure accountability for international law violations in Gaza. Earlier drafts suggested creating an international mechanism for investigating and prosecuting such violations but excluded this provision from the final text.
A second draft resolution will also be voted on Wednesday, urging Israel to respect UNRWA’s mandate and allow it to continue its humanitarian operations safely. This follows Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA operations, set to take effect on January 28, which has drawn global condemnation, including from the United States, a close ally of Israel.
