The Palestinians are hoping for widespread global support in their efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war, which has been ongoing for three months. A nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire will be voted on in the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect world opinion and can send a strong message.
The United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday that demanded a humanitarian ceasefire. In response, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the General Assembly to vote on a resolution with the same demand. The defeated resolution in the Security Council was cosponsored by 103 countries, and the Palestinians are hoping for more cosponsors and a high vote for the General Assembly resolution.
The General Assembly previously called for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza on October 27, with a vote of 120-14 and 45 abstentions. This was the first UN response to the Gaza war. The Security Council adopted its first resolution on November 15, calling for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza. The vote was 12-0 with the US, UK, and Russia abstaining. The US and UK abstained because the resolution did not condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel, while Russia abstained because it did not demand a humanitarian ceasefire.
Calls for a ceasefire have escalated as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise. On Friday, the US was isolated in its support for Israel in the Security Council, with a vote of 13-1 and the UK abstaining. The Security Council meeting and vote were in response to a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged the council to demand a humanitarian ceasefire.
Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which allows the UN chief to raise threats to international peace and security. He raised concerns about the potential collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, leading to a breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt. Guterres emphasized that Hamas’ attack on Israel does not justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
The draft General Assembly resolution expresses grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. It calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians. The resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and ensuring humanitarian access.
While the General Assembly resolution does not mention Hamas or the attacks on Israel, it focuses on addressing the humanitarian crisis and protecting civilians in accordance with international law. The Palestinians hope that a high vote and widespread support for the resolution will put pressure on Israel and contribute to ending the war.
In conclusion, the Palestinians are seeking global support to end the Israel-Hamas war. The upcoming vote in the UN General Assembly on a nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is seen as an opportunity to demonstrate widespread support. While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect world opinion and can send a strong message. The resolution expresses grave concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for an immediate ceasefire and compliance with international humanitarian law. The Palestinians hope for more cosponsors and a high vote to put pressure on Israel and contribute to ending the war.