The UN General Assembly has voted by an overwhelming majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly was convened as the ongoing Israeli attacks targeting Hamas resulting in humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. <\/p>\n
Member States adopted a resolution, demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as “ensuring humanitarian access.”<\/p>\n
The resolution was passed with a large majority of 153 in favor and 10 against, with 23 abstentions. <\/p>\n
General Assembly votes are non-binding, but it reflects the general global opinion on the issue.<\/p>\n
Israel and the United States, which has repeatedly blocked ceasefire calls in the UN Security Council, were among the 10 nations that opposed the resolution Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The resolution also reiterated the General Assembly’s demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, “notably with regard to the protection of civilians.”<\/p>\n
Two amendments making specific reference to extremist group Hamas by the U.S. and Austria failed to secure two-thirds majority.<\/p>\n
U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield demanded an immediate investigation into the allegations of sexual violence committed by Hamas during and after its October 7 attacks in Israel, which killed more than 1200 people.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday that the last barely functioning hospital in northern Gaza is a “humanitarian disaster zone”, highlighting the disastrous consequences of ongoing Israeli bombardment for critically ill and injured civilians across the enclave.<\/p>\n
Briefing reporters from Gaza, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described corridors overflowing with trauma patients at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where doctors treat people on the floor and fuel, oxygen, food and water are scarce.<\/p>\n