A resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which made no mention of Hamas, was overwhelmingly passed by the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, drawing praise from the Islamist terror group and condemnation from Israel.
The resolution called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all civilians, the protection of civilians and international institutions, and ensuring the safe passage of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
The initiative was nonbinding but highlighted the overwhelming international support for the Palestinians amid Israel’s military campaign in response to the October 7 Hamas onslaught.
Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying that it is committed to toppling Hamas to prevent another mass assault like the one that took place three weeks ago, when more than 1,400 people were killed. Gaza terrorists also took some 230 people — mostly civilians — as hostage into the enclave, releasing four of them since.
The US has also rejected calls for a ceasefire, suggesting that it would amount to a victory for Hamas. It has, however, begun suggesting that “humanitarian pauses” be considered to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and to ensure safe passage of civilians looking to flee the areas that the IDF is bombing most intensively in its aerial campaign across the Strip.
Israel insists it’s only targeting Hamas terrorists and infrastructure but many civilians are believed to be among those killed. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims roughly 7,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, but those numbers cannot be independently verified and include Palestinian terrorists killed fighting the IDF as well as civilians killed as a result of errant rockets launched by terror groups.
One-hundred and twenty countries voted in favor of the non-binding resolution introduced by Jordan, while just 14 — United States, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Fiji, Guatemala, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga — voted against it.
Forty-five countries abstained, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine and the UK.
Canada sought to have an amendment added to the resolution to include a condemnation of Hamas and a majority of members backed the proposal, but it fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to be adopted. Eighty-eight countries voted for the amendment, 55 voted against and 33 abstained.
Here are the 78 countries that voted against condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas.
Keep in mind American tax dollars pay nearly 30% of the UN's budget. pic.twitter.com/4gcDFr8sLM
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 27, 2023
Jordan’s ambassador to the UN called the amendment an effort to “whitewash” Israeli “atrocities” in Gaza.
Israel fumed after the vote, with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen decrying the “despicable” resolution and insisting that “Israel intends to eliminate Hamas just as the world dealt with the Nazis and ISIS.”
UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan angrily dismissed the resolution, saying Israel would continue to defend itself.
Today is a day that will go down in infamy. We have all witnessed that the @UN no longer holds even one ounce of legitimacy or relevance.
Israel categorically rejects the General Assembly resolution passed this afternoon that does not even name Hamas – not once! As if this war… pic.twitter.com/ymI5N1xaHf
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) October 27, 2023