UN General Assembly vote in support of Gaza ceasefire

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), comprised of 193 member states, has overwhelmingly approved a resolution urging a humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, the resolution gained support with 153 countries voting in favor, 23 abstaining, and 10 countries casting dissenting votes, including Israel and the United States. Although the resolution lacks binding force, it serves as a significant gauge of global sentiment.

Following the vote, Saudi Arabia’s UN ambassador, Abdulaziz Alwasil, expressed gratitude to those supporting the adopted resolution, emphasizing its reflection of the international stance in advocating for the resolution’s implementation.

Following the unsuccessful UNSC resolution on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made an unprecedented move by invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter. This article grants him the authority to issue warnings regarding significant threats to international peace, with the last recorded instance dating back to 1971.

However, the adoption of the non-binding resolution in the UNGA for Gaza ceasefire on Tuesday encountered resistance from the United States as well.

The decision coincides with escalating international pressure on Israel to halt its prolonged offensive in Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Additionally, more than 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced amid the ongoing crisis.

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