JTFMax:

The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, marking a compelling rebuke to the US, which blocked such an attempt last week at the Security Council level. A majority of 153 nations supported this resolution during an emergency special session of the Assembly, while 10 opposed and 23 abstained from voting.

The vote also encouraged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and provide unhindered access for humanitarian aid workers. Israel was specifically asked to cease airstrikes that "target civilians without regard to international humanitarian law and destroy vital infrastructure such as hospitals, refugee centers, and food warehouses."

Egypt cosponsored this resolution. Egypt was among its cosponsors; Osama Saloomey praised its passage as being "balanced and neutral," noting it sends a strong message about both Hamas and Israel needing to cease hostilities in the area. Linda Thomas-Greenfield from the US Ambassador's Office criticized its failure to condemn the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 directly. She explained this would require two-thirds majority approval within 193 member Assembly, requiring further amendment to add even longer resolution texts than existing in the current resolution text.

General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding documents that provide a platform for countries to voice their concerns over an urgent matter in a public setting. They can act as a political framework for future negotiations on such an issue.

Since July 8, a General Assembly resolution on Gaza has been tabled seven times since it first started. Tensions between Israel and international actors have escalated following the killing of a Palestinian teenager by Israeli bombings that have claimed over 1,200 lives there, driving many out of Gaza altogether and displaying more than 1.9 million residents displaced due to hunger, disease, and poverty caused by this conflict.

As Dennis Francis noted in his opening statement for this emergency special session of the Assembly, no agreement can be reached by Security Council members regarding text agreement for an international text document. This prompted President of Assembly Dennis Francis to convene a special emergency session of the Assembly for resolution.

The UN General Assembly was created in 1950 and features a unique structure that allows it to address global peace and security matters when the Security Council cannot. Meetings may be convened spontaneously or upon any member's request. The Security Council can veto recommendations made of it. Still, the Assembly can vote to override that decision and vote to hold two-thirds of the majority sessions to do so. In three previous cases, this occurred. The Assembly's governing rules specify such sessions must pass with two-thirds majority support. Additionally, it must gain the support of most of its members. Furthermore, the Assembly has other rules that usually convene only in urgent and critical circumstances like disaster response efforts or threats to peace and security worldwide.

While addressing the assembly, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated that they recognize the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to protect civilians under international humanitarian law. However, she urged nations to support an amendment to the resolution condemning Hamas, which unfortunately did not pass.

”A ceasefire right now would be temporary at best and dangerous at worst,” she said. “Dangerous to Israelis, who would be subject to relentless attacks, and also dangerous to Palestinians who deserve the chance to build a better future for themselves free from a group that hides behind innocent civilians.”

Canada has broken away from its southern neighbor and has cast its vote in favor of the resolution. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a joint statement with Australia and New Zealand leaders to support "urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire."