UN General Assembly voted today overwhelmingly for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza. Drafted by Spain, it also demands full humanitarian aid and “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians ... of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supply and access.”
Spain’s UN Ambassador Héctor José Gómez Hernández urged members to vote in favor of the resolution in light of “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon denied that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, calling the accusation “blood libel.” The vote was 149-12 with 19 abstentions. It was adopted with a burst of applause.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, before today’s vote, explained that the resolution “sends an unacceptable message to Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist proxies, and that message is, you will be rewarded for taking hostages, diverting aid and launching attacks from civilian areas.”
