Despite U.S. veto in Security Council: UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza Strip
UN calls for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas (Photo: GettyImages)
The United Nations General Assembly has voted by a majority to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to Bloomberg.
The UN General Assembly voted 153 countries in favor of the resolution, 23 abstained, and 10 were against. Czechia and Austria were the only members of the European Union to vote against it.
The resolution calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages.
It is worth noting that last week the United States vetoed the same resolution in the UN Security Council.
Robert Wood, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN, emphasized that resolving the conflict is not as simple as snapping fingers. He described the situation as very complicated, clarifying that the approach is not about isolation but focuses on determining the most effective way to end the conflict as quickly as possible.
The war between Israel and Hamas
As a reminder, Hamas militants invaded Israel on October 7. The terrorists began killing and kidnapping both military and civilians. Soon after, Jerusalem announced Operation Iron Swords and shelled terrorist sites in the Gaza Strip.
On November 24, a temporary truce began between Israel and Hamas to release prisoners. At the same time, the parties agreed to a ceasefire for four days but decided to extend it for another two days on the condition that the militants release more hostages.
On December 1, Israel resumed hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Hamas had violated the terms of the ceasefire.
Currently, the Israeli Defense Forces continue operations in the south of the Gaza Strip. It has already surrounded Khan Younis, the second largest city, and even made its way to its center.
Also, according to media reports, the IDF has begun flooding Hamas' underground tunnels in Gaza with seawater.
