The UN General Assembly will vote on Thursday on a draft resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza war, following the United States' veto of a similar effort in the Security Council last week.
Diplomats estimate that the text will likely be approved with broad support from the 193 member states, despite Israel's pressure on countries to refrain from what it called a "politically motivated, counterproductive farce."
General Assembly resolutions are not binding, but they reflect the position of the international community. Its previous calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas were ignored. Unlike the Security Council, in the General Assembly no country has a veto right.
Today's vote comes just days before a UN conference to restart international efforts for a two-state solution. The US has called on countries not to participate in the conference.
In a diplomatic briefing seen by Reuters, the US warned that "countries that take anti-Israel actions after the conference will be considered acting contrary to US foreign policy interests and may face diplomatic consequences."
Last week, the US vetoed a draft Security Council resolution that also called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, arguing that the text would undermine US mediation efforts. The other 14 Council members voted in favor.
Today's draft General Assembly resolution also calls for the release of Hamas hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and unhindered humanitarian access,
It also “strongly condemns” the use of hunger as a weapon of war, the illegal denial of humanitarian assistance and the obstruction of the provision of items essential for the survival of civilians.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, responded in a letter to member states on Tuesday, saying the resolution is “deeply flawed and damaging” and called on countries not to participate in this farce, which – as he argued – undermines the hostage negotiations and does not condemn Hamas.
In October 2023, the General Assembly had adopted a resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire with 120 votes in favor. In December 2023, 153 countries called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and later, 158 countries voted in favor of an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.
