The U.N. General Assembly on Friday voted 120 votes in favor, 14 against and 45 abstentions in a non-binding resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Reporting from the U.N. News website:
The [Jordanian] resolution calls for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce”, and demands all parties comply with international humanitarian law and “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of essential supplies and services into the Gaza Strip.
It also calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all civilians held captive as well as demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law. The resolution does not mention Hamas or the events of Oct.
Gilad Erdan, Ambassador of Israel to the U.N., said in response to the resolution passing that “today is a day that will go down in infamy”.
“We have all witnessed that the U.N. holds not even one ounce of legitimacy,” he said. “The U.N. is committed to ensuring further atrocity. According to the family of nations, Israel has no right to defend itself.”
There are no talks or discussions to be held with Hamas, he said, adding that Israel will not sit idly by to let them commit atrocities again. The resolution does not mention Hamas once, as if the war started on its own.
“What is going on here?” he asked, questioning whether the goal was to tie Israel’s hands. “The only way to destroy Hamas is to root them out. Why are you not holding Hamas accountable?”
“We know there is no humanitarian crisis in accordance with international humanitarian law,” he said, noting that every statistic comes from Hamas about information about Gaza.
Anyone interested in preventing violence should call on Hamas to lay down their arms, turn themselves in and return all hostages, he said.
“If this were to happen, the war would end immediately,” he said. “This is a dark day for the U.N. and mankind. Israel will defend itself and will do what must be done to eradicate Hamas’ capabilities and bring the hostages home.”
How the countries voted. (U.N..org)
France: Security Council must act
France’s Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière speaking after the resolution passed, said his delegation voted in favour, as “nothing justifies the killing of civilians”.
“We have to work collectively to set up a humanitarian truce because the situation in Gaza is catastrophic,” he said, noting that France has already sent an aid vessel. “The Assembly must call for the release of hostages.”
However, the adoption of this resolution cannot replace the Security Council’s efforts nor the decisions that the organ must now adopt, he said, expressing hope that the Council can reach a decision.
“We have a duty to prevent a worsening of the situation,” he said. “The only viable solution is a two-State solution.”
Israel must be named too: Pakistan
In a powerful speech rebutting Canada’s explanation, Pakistan’s ambassador Munir Akram said that if Canada was being fair in its amendment it would agree to name Israel as well as Hamas.
Not naming either side was the best choice he said, as the Jordanian resolution does.
“Israel needs to be named too, if you are to be fair and equitable and just”, he said.
We all know who started this. It is 50 years of Israeli occupation and the killing of Palestinians with impunity, he said.
Israel can’t face the truth or face justice. The Israeli occupation is the original sin, not what happened on 7 October.
Members of the United Nations General Assembly vote on a resolution at the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. (U.N. Photo/Evan Schneider)
Canadian amendment failed to get enough support
The votes on the amendment were 85 for, 55 against, with 23 abstentions, so it failed to get the required two-thirds majority.
Canada’s Ambassador Bob Rae said the Assembly was meeting to show Israelis and Palestinians that any life lost is a tragedy. Yet, the critical reason for being here has been forgotten. On 7 October, Hamas wreaked terror on Israel. Since then, more that 7,000 Palestinians have been killed.
“We can see the need for a rapid response,” he said.
Unfortunately, Canada cannot support the current text, he said, adding that the Assembly cannot act without recognizing the 7 October terrorist attacks and the hostage taking.
If the proposed amendment is not adopted, the Assembly will not have recognized one of the world’s worst terrorist attacks and “we will all have to live with that failure as the tragedy continues to unfold,” he said.
If the proposed amendment is not adopted, the Assembly will not have recognized one of the world’s worst terrorist attacks and “we will all have to live with that failure as the tragedy continues to unfold,” he said.
This amendment “names what has to be named”, he said. Emphasizing that the crisis must not spread through the region, he reiterated that Canada supports the two-State solution and continues to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Donate to CN’s Fall Fund Drive
The US and its vassals on the UN Security Council and in the General Assembly constantly reiterate that all UN member states have the right to defend themselves. They don’t add that Palestine is not a UN member state. It simply has “Non-member observer State status,” so the UN Charter doesn’t guarantee its right to defend itself. That is the implication but it wouldn’t sound so good if they said it out loud.
Australia chose to abstain.
As an Australian this disgusts me.
A gutless, soulless and immoral decision.
America can not fight a war without lying about how it began.
This war began over the mosque in Jerusalem, long recognized as a flashpoint. Two years ago the fighting began for the same reason. In the first week of October, the Israelis invaded that mosque two days in a row. Nearly 1000 people, escorted by a large group of armed police, pushing their way into a holy site and pushing out the people praying there so they can hold their own rites. Pictures of bleeding old women went around the world. Censored of course in the Land of the Free.
Netanyahu needed a war to stay out of prison. Losing the PM post meant going to jail, literally. His government was weak and unstable, with massive protest against his attacks on the legal system. So, his radical allies invaded the mosque knowing that this had started a war in the past and was likely to do so again. The majority of Israelis currently blame Netanyahu for the war.
This ‘attack’ did not come out of nowhere. As usual, the USA and NATO are lying about how the war began. Its a American tradition.
14 Countries voted No.
1 of them, Canada, just had its entire government and parliament give a standing ovation to a former SS Soldier who was long ago given entrance into Canada with a couple of thousand other former SS soldiers.
2 of them, the US and Ukraine, regularly vote against resolutions condemning the glorification of the German Nazis of the 1930s
The rest are the usual US paid votes. The European portion of the Golden Billion abstained.
Do you still think its a coincidence that this looks a lot like the clearing of the Warsaw ghetto?
The hate, the lies, the tactics, and the demand that their opponents must be wiped from the face of the earth all look sadly familiar.
A more apt term than “sadly familiar” is required here!
Despicable genocidal acts would be closer to the truth.
“Gilad Erdan, Ambassador of Israel to the U.N., said in response to the resolution passing that “today is a day that will go down in infamy”.”
Yes Mr. Erdan. “Today is a day that will go down in infamy”: THE DAY THE SANE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD VOTED AGAINST GENOCIDE.
(I could say eat shit and die Mr. Erdan, but i won’t. Because i’m quite a nice person really.
It is almost laughable that Israel sends this cretin, posing as a diplomat, to the UN. He has taken the Israeli traits of extreme arrogance and abrasiveness to a new level.
And very amateur theatrical capabilities.