The UN General Assembly Calls for a Ceasefire in Gaza

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. According to the Times of Israel, this body, which includes all 193 member states of the UN, voted in favor of the resolution with 153 votes, surpassing the approximately 140 countries that typically support resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Ten countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against it, while 23 countries abstained. The U.S. vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council last week. The draft resolution, which was voted on Tuesday, also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and adherence by the parties involved to international laws, particularly regarding the protection of civilians. The vote in the General Assembly took place a day after 12 representatives from the Security Council visited the Rafah border crossing from Egypt, where limited humanitarian aid is entering Gaza. The U.S. did not send a representative for this visit. In October, the General Assembly passed a resolution with 121 votes in favor, 14 against, including from the U.S., and 44 abstentions, which led to a humanitarian pause in the fighting. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, emphasized that Hamas's brutality against Israelis on the 15th of Mehr 'can never justify the collective punishment of Palestinians.' Just hours earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Israel is losing support due to its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should change his hardline cabinet. These remarks reveal a new rift in Biden's relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister. The Hamas attack on the 15th of Mehr, which killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel, triggered the ongoing war. Israel claims it aims to eradicate Hamas's presence in Gaza. Hamas, supported by the Islamic Republic, is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the U.S. Health officials in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, report that the death toll from Israeli attacks in response to Hamas's initial attack on the 15th of Mehr has exceeded 18,000. Intensive U.S. diplomacy in Gaza; Washington claims it seeks to reduce civilian casualties. Water in Hamas shelters; Israel has begun pumping seawater into Hamas tunnels in Gaza. Biden's sharp criticism of the management of the war in Gaza: Netanyahu must change his hardline cabinet. Live blog: Israeli forces attack the 'World Central Kitchen' convoy in Gaza; 7 killed. Ashdod port officials: Houthi attacks have not affected Ashdod port operations. Israeli attacks to 'eradicate' Hamas in Gaza continue. Attack on a Norwegian-flagged oil tanker near Yemen continues the expansion of Houthi rebel attacks. The UN General Assembly votes on the 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza. Joe Biden: We will continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they rid themselves of Hamas. Israel claims to have besieged the last Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza.