Following yet another United States veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza, members of the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent cease-fire” in the Palestinian enclave, where Israeli forces continued relentless attacks that killed dozens more Palestinians, including numerous children.
The veto by the United States, a permanent Security Council member, came during an emergency special session and was the lone dissenting vote on the 15-member body. It was the fourth time since October 2023 that the Biden administration vetoed a Security Council resolution on a Gaza cease-fire.
“At a time when Hamas is feeling isolated due to the cease-fire in Lebanon, the draft resolution on a cease-fire in Gaza risks sending a dangerous message to Hamas that there’s no need to negotiate or release the hostages,” Robert Wood, the United States’ deputy U.N. ambassador, said ahead of Wednesday’s vote.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) subsequently voted 158-9, with 13 abstentions, for a resolution demanding “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, to be respected by all parties,” and calling for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” held by Hamas.
#BREAKING
UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution A/ES-10/L.33 demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostagesVOTE:
In favor: 158
Against: 9
Abstain: 13 pic.twitter.com/ijOnemfKL7— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) December 11, 2024
The nine countries that opposed the measure are the United States, Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga.
In a separate vote Wednesday, 159 UNGA members voted in favor of a resolution affirming the body’s “full support” for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. UNRWA has been the target of diplomatic and financial attacks by Israel and its backers – who have baselessly accused the lifesaving organization of being a terrorist group – and literal attacks by Israeli forces, who have killed more than 250 of the agency’s personnel.
Nine UNGA members opposed the measure, while 11 others abstained. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, while General Assembly resolutions are not, and are also not subject to vetoes.
#BREAKING
UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution A/ES-10/L.32 affirming its full support for the mandate of the UN Relief and Works Agency @UNRWA and deploring the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset on 28 October 2024VOTE:
In favor: 159
Against: 9
Abstain: 11 pic.twitter.com/KTlsA8V86k— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) December 11, 2024
Wednesday’s U.N. votes took place amid sustained Israeli attacks on Gaza including a strike on a home sheltering forcibly displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah that killed at least 33 people, including children, local medical officials said. This followed earlier Israeli attacks, including the Monday night bombing of the al-Kahlout family home in Beit Hanoun that killed or wounded dozens of Palestinians and reportedly wiped the family from the civil registry.
“We are witnessing a massive loss of life,” Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, toldThe Associated Press.
The funeral prayer for members of the Al-Kahlout family, who were killed by Israeli genocide forces in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/PaVB198wXB
— Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) December 10, 2024
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, at least 162,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, maimed, or left missing by Israel’s bombardment, invasion, and siege of the coastal enclave, according to officials there. More than 2 million others have been forcibly displaced, starved, or sickened by Israel’s onslaught.
Israel’s conduct in the war is the subject of a South Africa-led genocide case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The International Criminal Court has also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as one Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Brett Wilkins is is staff writer for Common Dreams. Based in San Francisco, his work covers issues of social justice, human rights and war and peace. This originally appeared at CommonDreams and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”…
United States, Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga. The coalition of the willing.
The wall of shame …
Tonga? Tonga has a religious representation of Mormons in the vicinity of 90%.
The 159 need to unite in banning Israeli commerce.
These nine countries along with eleven that didn't vote ARE ALL GENOCIDE SUPPORTERS…! Please do not travel to any of these countries, for business or sightseeing…!
" Please do not travel to any of these countries, for business or sightseeing…!" LOL.
An excellent idea. I can't even imagine the sort of idiot that could find that a bad idea or laughable in any way.
I am not so sure about "cease fire" resolutions any more. It seems almost like games all parties play to delay the real issue and for Israel to restock, regroup and break the deal anyway.
How many cease fires have we had now since Oct 8th 2023 and how many people were saved by them? And by the US always vetoing them anyway they simply want to tell the world how powerful and mighty they are.
The only cease fire that would work is for the US to stop sending money and weapons to Israel and for the rest of the world stop trading. Let's see how long the war lasts then.
The only way Hamas can be forced to realize the hostages is for the world to stop sending aid to Gaza. Let's see how long long the war lasts then.
Of all the stupid fucking things you've said, I think you just topped them all.
Dunno if this one counts, as it's the same stupid s**t he just Pastes into every comment on the topic.
If anything it's in a 7,000-way tie for 1st with all his other tropes.
Were you chanting "the schools are closed because your children are dead" with the Maccabi soccer fans at the Tel Aviv airport and at the stadium at Amsterdam? Perhaps one of them throwing metal bars at Amsterdam police vans?
“At a time when Hamas is feeling isolated due to the cease-fire in Lebanon, the draft resolution on a cease-fire in Gaza risks sending a dangerous message to Hamas that there’s no need to negotiate or release the hostages,” Robert Wood, the United States’ deputy U.N. ambassador, said ahead of Wednesday’s vote.
As compared to the message sent to Israel that they can continue to kill, with impunity, anything that moves? And never mind that it is Netanyahu sabotages "negotiations" at every turn and even openly says that the destruction of Hamas will continue after the hostages are released. But let's put the blame on the group that is supposed to negotiate their own demise as a condition of releasing the hostages.
Your last line is correct. Hamas is losing the war and will lose in the end. Every day they refuse to surrender and release the hostages is another day of death and destruction in Gaza.
My last line was sarcasm, moron. And absolutely nothing Hamas does, or did, changes who is at fault for the ongoing genocide because nothing justifies what Israel is doing. That was Israel's decision.
False.
Israel may take the lead, but only with the 100% support of the U.S. of Atrocities.
Most of the Palestinians killed by the IDF are women and children.
Look up the interview with Dr. Perlmutter, MD, one of the volunteers to render aid to Palestinians in Gaza. I dare you. Then post a comment as to what you feel ab out it.
There is supposed to be some type of arrangement between Hamas and Israel which includes hostage exchange and Hamas conceding Israeli IDF staying in Gaza.
What is the over/under of when Israel defies the arrangement and continues the killing? One hour? Half hour?
Israel has sh*t canned all previous arrangements/agreements, such as violation 150 times during the current "cease fire" in Lebanon.
These votes are pointless. Anything less than kicking the illegal state off the UN and voluntary (since SC motions will be vetoed) cessation of trade and relations with it by all these nations until Iz creates the Pal state and pulls its forces back where they belong is pointless. Let's have that motion up for vote.
I am already scrutinising purchases to ensure I do not buy anything made in Israel.
Why Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga? Funding? Critical location vs. China? Rare Earth Metals?
Money & snuggling up to the USA for "protection" believing the American propaganda that the DPRC has in mind to conquer all of Asia and the Pacific islands.
Guam, Midway, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and Tonga are strategic locations for the defense of Micronesia against China.
Kick USA out of UN. They are biased towards Izrael?
Why on Earth wasn't the UN set up such that a 2/3 or 4/5 majority in the General Assembly over-rode the UNSC and vetoes ? Kinda bulls**t that the Five Main Nuclear Powers hold the authority.
The number is probably closer to 250,000. Thousands of bodies may lie in the rubble, unaccounted for.