UNGA votes for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution that calls for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The 193-member assembly adopted the resolution with 153 votes in favor. 10 countries voted the resolution down, including the US, in line with Washington's unfaltering political support for the Israeli regime.
The US, however, does not have veto power at the UN General Assembly, unlike the UN Security Council, where it has blocked successive resolutions against Israel.
The resolution demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, as well as the swift and unconditional release of all captives. It also urges all parties to comply with international law.
The vote is non-binding but is seen as an expression of the views of the international community. It also increases pressure on Israel to end its onslaught on Palestinians.
Ambassadors and other diplomats burst into applause at the vote count, which showed much higher support than an October 27th Arab-sponsored resolution that called for a humanitarian truce.
Iran's permanent ambassador to the UN urged the international community to address the barbaric crimes of Israel decisively.
One Member State, a permanent member of (the) Security Council, misusing its unequal authority of veto power and in clear disregard to [sic] the united will of (the) international community has decided to stand with Israeli criminal regime and materially enable this regime in its ongoing massacre against civilians in Gaza.
The United States blatantly opposing a ceasefire (is tantamount to) prescribing war, violence, and, eventually more death for children and women in Gaza.
Saeed Iravani, Iranian UN Ambassador
Meanwhile, Australia, a traditional ally of the US, has sided with the UN General Assembly resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; in a rare split from its close allies, the US and the UK.
Australia, alongside 152 other countries, was among the countries which voted in favor. In doing so, we joined Canada, New Zealand, Japan, France, and India and many other countries.
Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister
Now the significance of this vote was that not only is it showing that the support that Israel had, from many western states, especially, for its military assault on Gaza, is eroding, and even staunch supporters of Israel like Australia and like Canada, are now saying we need a ceasefire.
Nada Tarbush, Palestinian UN Diplomat, Geneva
Tuesday's vote comes on the heels of a failed resolution in the UN Security Council last Friday, which called for a humanitarian ceasefire. The US vetoed the proposal, casting the sole dissenting vote and thereby dooming its passage. The total 13 council members voted in favor of the ceasefire resolution, while the US wielded the sole veto. The United Kingdom was also the only country to abstain.
The UN appears to be completely powerless when faced with bringing to bear international law against the Zionist entity, that has violated international law since its creation in 1947, effectively, by the UN, and before the 1948 Nakba
Vanessa Beeley, British Journalist
The administration of US President Joe Biden has firmly supported Israel's military campaign, arguing that it must be allowed to dismantle Hamas.
However, as Israel's genocide of the Palestinians continues, the US has found itself increasingly at odds with the international community over its support for the Israeli regime.
With each step, the US looks more isolated from the mainstream of UN opinion.
US President Joe Biden himself has also minced no words in recent weeks to project himself as the most Zionist American presidents ever.
35 years ago I said you don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist and I'm a Zionist. You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.
US President, Joe Biden
While the United States and Israel have always been open about their intimate relationship, Biden and his administration have gone one step further militarily, politically and strategically, but the unequivocal US support for the Israeli regime has come at a political cost for Washington.
Due to rising domestic and international pressure, Biden has been forced to criticize Israel, saying that Tel Aviv was losing international support due to indiscriminate bombing in Gaza.
The US has now been accused of employing a double standard on human rights.
For Peace to prosper new equations that represent the will of the global majority must be set in place or the world must risk one humanitarian disaster after another for the sake of the profits of the few.
As the American-Israeli-engineered carnage in Gaza continues world leaders must take a brave and bold stance against those who are fueling the flames of settler colonial violence.
And so what this shows is that Israel is isolated, the United States is isolated. The General Assembly, which is the world's Parliament, and which is the most democratic organ in the United Nations, has said we overwhelmingly want an immediate ceasefire.
Now at the same time, and this is where sometimes you feel there's a parallel reality, you see the United States voting against that resolution and at the same time, words from the Biden administration about Israeli indiscriminate bombing
Nada Tarbush, Palestinian UN Diplomat, Geneva
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