UN: AG demands truce and accountability from Israel

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The UN General Assembly on Thursday approved, with overwhelming support from 149 countries, a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and holding Israel accountable for failing to fulfill its humanitarian obligations.

The draft resolution, presented to the Assembly by Spain and co-sponsored by dozens of UN member states, including Portugal, received 149 votes in favor, 12 against and 19 abstentions from the 193 UN member states.

Countries such as Israel, the United States, Argentina and Paraguay voted against this text, and among the countries that abstained were India, East Timor and Albania.

Titled “ Illegal Israeli Actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the Rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory ,” the resolution condemns the use of starvation of civilians “as a method of warfare” and the “illegal denial of humanitarian access.”

The document also reinforces the demand for the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by the extremist group Hamas. Even before the vote, Israel criticized the resolution, assessing that the text does not reflect the reality on the ground and that it only serves to strengthen Hamas.

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The resolution is not binding, but serves to assess the support that Israel has at the United Nations, in addition to its unconditional ally, the United States, which last week vetoed again in the Security Council a resolution that demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.