United Nations (AP) In response to Israel’s effort to ban the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the Palestinians called on member states to endorse resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Following two days of speeches that overwhelmingly called for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group, the 193 countries in the U.N. General Assembly will cast their votes on Wednesday.
A minority that has opposed the resolutions includes Israel and the United States, a close friend.
Although they represent global opinion, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but Security Council resolutions are. The assembly does not have any vetoes.
After the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution on November 20 calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Palestinians and their supporters moved to the General Assembly. The United States protested that it was not connected to the immediate release of captives abducted by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war, despite the fact that it was endorsed by the other 14 council members.
Similar to the vetoed resolution, the first resolution presented to the assembly called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent cease-fire that all parties must adhere to. It also reiterated the demand for the unconditional and prompt release of all captives.
The second resolution supports the mission of UNRWA, the United Nations organization for Palestinian refugees, which was created by the General Assembly in 1949.
The statement laments rules that Israel’s parliament passed on October 28 that prohibit UNRWA’s operations in Palestinian territory; the restriction will go into effect in ninety days. Additionally, it restates remarks made by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that UNRWA is the foundation of all humanitarian efforts in Gaza and that no other agency can take its place.
Israel claims that about a dozen of the 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza took part in the Hamas strikes on Israel that sparked the conflict. More than 100 names of UNRWA employees it claims have extremist affiliations were recently given to the U.N.
The resolution urges the Israeli government to fulfill its responsibilities under international law, respect UNRWA’s privileges and immunities, and allow and facilitate full, quick, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian aid in all its forms into and throughout the Gaza Strip.
U.S. deputy U.N. ambassador Robert Wood said Wednesday that the United States opposes the ceasefire resolution and chastised the Palestinians for once again omitting to bring up the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and kidnapped another 250 as hostages. Ceasefire attempts have come to a standstill, and about 100 hostages—a third of whom are thought to be dead—have not been returned by Gaza terrorists.
The local Health Ministry reports that more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza. It claims that over half of the deceased are women and children, but it does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its tally.
In his address to the assembly, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accused UNRWA of working in tandem with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, their diplomatic proxies, without mentioning a truce.
He claimed that when combined, they strengthen enmity, exalt violence, and prolong hostilities.
According to Danon, tearing down this hate infrastructure is the first step if U.N. members genuinely want peace. Put an end to glorifying terror. Put an end to rewarding murder. Take UNRWA down. Account for decades of incitement and rejection by the Palestinian leadership.
Last Wednesday, at the beginning of the assembly debate, Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour accused Israel of committing a war of horrors against a whole civilian population, including mass killings, displacements, damage, and famine.
According to Mansour, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, backing for humanitarian efforts, and thwarting Israel’s attempt to dismantle UNRWA are the only ways to halt the horrors, liberate the hostages, and maintain the hope of a different future.
Like many other speakers, Slovenia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Bogar, cited the tens of thousands of people who were slain in Gaza.
“Gaza no longer exists,” he declared. It’s ruined. People are facing death, despair, and famine.
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