The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, on the 21st day of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as the Israeli army announced it would expand its ground operation into the shattered area .
The non-binding resolution, criticized by Israel and the United States for not mentioning Hamas, received 120 votes in favor, 14 against and 45 abstentions from UN members.
Israel angrily rejected the measure, saying the country would “use all the means at our disposal” to confront Hamas.
“Today is a day that will be considered shameful. We have all witnessed that the UN no longer has even a shred of legitimacy or relevance,” Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the meeting: “Shame on you.”
“Israel will continue to defend itself. We will defend our future, our very existence, by ridding the world of the evil of Hamas so that it can never threaten anyone else again,” he said.
Hamas, meanwhile, welcomed the call for a break in the conflict.
“We demand its immediate application to allow access to fuel and humanitarian aid for civilians,” a Hamas statement said.
The Palestinian Authority’s rival foreign ministry said that with Israel’s campaign “reaching new heights of brutality,” there is “a solid international position that rejects Israel’s unhinged aggression.”
The text, proposed by Jordan on behalf of 22 Arab countries, called for “an immediate, lasting and sustained humanitarian ceasefire leading to a cessation of hostilities.”
An earlier version called for an “immediate ceasefire.”
Israel has bombed Gaza since Hamas gunmen crossed the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping more than 220 others, according to Israeli officials.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said in an update on Friday that the attacks have now killed 7,326 people, mostly civilians and many of them children.
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by nearly 50 other countries, focused largely on the dire humanitarian situation in the locked-down Gaza, as Israel continues its bombing campaign.
The document calls for “immediate” delivery of water, food, medical supplies, fuel and electricity and unhindered access for the UN and other humanitarian organizations trying to help the Palestinians.
The draft condemns “all acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks,” but makes no mention of Hamas.
The resolution exposed a division within Western countries, with France voting in favor of the measure; Germany, Italy and Great Britain abstained; while Austria and the United States voted against.
“It is outrageous that this resolution fails to identify the perpetrators of the October 7 terrorist attack,” said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“Another key word missing from this resolution is hostage taking,” she added.
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