The European Union [sic] has split on the Oct. 26 UN General Assembly Resolution overwhelmingly passed the demand for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. Whereas some nations abstained, such as Italy and Germany, and former EU member, the U.K., several nations voted with the majority in favor: France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta. An entire group of Northern and Eastern European countries voted against, including Austria, Poland, Hungary and Czechia.
Noteworthy is that both those that abstained and voted against, have used the arguments put forward by Washington: That the resolution “did not condemn Hamas,” that it “is not demanding the release of the hostages” and that it does not affirm “Israel’s right to defense from aggression.” Normal citizens can hardly challenge such arguments, as the media neglect to report the short, three-page resolution.
However, the text can be found on the UN website and a glance at it exposes such excuses as dishonest. As to the first argument, the preamble of the resolution states: “Condemning all acts of violence aimed at Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.”
As to the second argument, the resolution in point 7 “Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive, demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law.”
Admittedly, the first point is not dealt with explicitly, but the resolution does it implicitly, with the very first sentence, which says that the General Assembly is “Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” Article 51 of the UN Charter affirms the right of every nation to defend itself from aggressions by another entity. Schoolchildren know this, never mind what pass for diplomats.
But even with alleged shortcomings, the focus of the resolution is to establish the protection of human life through a ceasefire. If you see two persons fighting in the street, do you first separate them or do you first investigate who is right and who is wrong? How are those government officials, whose citizens are among the Hamas hostages, going to justify their failure to fulfill their oath of protecting their lives?
