UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

The United Nations made a fervent appeal on Tuesday, urging for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. At the same time, US Vice President Joe Biden cautioned Israel about the waning international support as a result of its “indiscriminate” actions in the conflict with Hamas militants. Amid alarm raised by UN officials over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the 193-member UN General Assembly stood in unity behind a resolution advocating for a ceasefire. The overwhelming support saw 153 countries voting in favor, with 23 choosing to abstain. Notably, the United States and Israel, contending that a ceasefire would solely benefit Hamas, aligned with eight other nations in opposition to the motion. While the resolution lacks legal enforceability, it bears substantial political weight, embodying a global stance on the ongoing conflict. Significantly, last week, the United States thwarted a similar request in the Security Council’s 15-member body. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution and urged other nations to exert pressure on Israel to honor the ceasefire. Expressing the same sentiment, Hamas official in exile Izzat El-Reshiq underscored in a Telegram statement that Israel must “halt its aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against our people.” Preceding the passage of the resolution, Biden asserted that Israel maintained the backing of “the majority of the world,” including the United States and the European Union.