UN General Assembly overwhelmingly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire
(VOVWORLD) - The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted on Wednesday to demand an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the immediate release of all hostages.
 Buildings are destroyed after Israel's airstrikes at al-Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza, December 7, 2024. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
The ceasefire demand in the resolution was expressed in more urgent language than one urging an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza that the body "called for" in October then "demanded" in December last year.
General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the conflict. The United States, Israel and seven other countries voted against the ceasefire resolution, while 13 countries abstained.
The world body also threw its support behind the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, adopting a second resolution to deplore a new Israeli law that will ban UNRWA's operations in Israel from late January.