UN General Assembly votes for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

Published On: 13 December 2023

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to ensure the delivery of relief aid.

The resolution was supported by 153 countries, with 10 countries opposed, and 23 other countries abstaining.

The General Assembly resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.

The draft resolution, presented by 21 Arab countries, refers to the Secretary-General's message to the President of the Security Council on December 6th  under Article 99 of the United Nations Charter.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, resumed the tenth emergency special session on “Illegal Israeli Actions in East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the Assembly President said there is an urgent need to end the suffering of civilians and protect them in accordance with international humanitarian law. “The carnage must stop,” he added.

Commenting on the United Nations resolution on “X” (formerly Twitter), Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said : “The global consensus continues to strengthen – at the General Assembly 153 member states voted for a ceasefire. Stop this brutal war against Gaza now.”

The United States and Austria proposed amendments to the draft resolution before the General Assembly, but these did not receive the support of two-thirds of the members and were therefore not adopted.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.

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