الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة تصوت على قرار بوقف فوري لحرب غزة

After the United States used its veto against a similar effort in the Security Council last week, the United Nations General Assembly is witnessing a vote today (Thursday) on a draft resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the Israeli war on Gaza.

The draft resolution demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, emphasizing the necessity for aid to enter without obstacles.

The resolution strongly condemns the use of civilian starvation as a method of warfare, the illegal obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the deprivation of civilians of essential items for survival.

Diplomats expect the United Nations General Assembly, which includes 193 members, to approve the text by a large majority, despite pressure exerted by Israel on countries this week to prevent participation in the vote.

General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, but they carry political weight as they reflect the global perspective on the war, as previous calls from the Assembly to end the Israeli war on Gaza have been ignored. Unlike the Security Council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly.

This vote comes ahead of a scheduled United Nations conference next week, aimed at giving momentum to international efforts toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, while the United States has urged countries not to participate.

The U.S. warned that any actions perceived as hostile to Israel following the conference would be viewed as contrary to American foreign policy interests and could face diplomatic consequences.

The United Nations described the situation in Gaza as the "worst" since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Palestinian territory 19 months ago, despite the resumption of limited aid deliveries.