THE U.N. CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

unvote121223

On December 12, 2023, in an emergency special session, the UN voted in the majority on a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages. There were 153 for, ten against, and 23 choosing to abstain. Those voting against were the US, Israel, Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.

The 23 who abstained from voting were Argentina, Bulgaria/Burkina Faso/Burundi, Cabo Verde/Cambodia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malawi, The Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Romania, Slovakia, South Sudan, Togo, Tonga, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session (U.N. official site, 12-12-23)

U.N. resolution on Gaza cease-fire: Which countries voted for and against it (The Washington Post, 12-13-23)

Vote Board

UN VOTES FOR HUMANITARIAN TRUCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS

On October 27, 2023, the UN voted on a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas, allowing unhindered aid to the Gaza Strip. Voting ends with 120 in favor of the resolution, 14 opposed, 45 abstaining. Joining Israel and the United States in opposition were Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Fiji, Guatemala, Hungary, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga.

Those choosing to abstain were Albania, Australia, Bulgaria/Burkina Faso/Burundi, Cabo Verde/Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia/Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Molossia, Romania, San Marino/Sao Tome-Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia/Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu/Venezuela, and Zambia. This resolution, though not bound by law, shows clearly where the world currently stands on this issue.

United Nations A/ES-10/L.25 (UN Resolution PDF)

General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling for Immediate, Sustained Humanitarian Truce Leading to Cessation of Hostilities between Israel, Hamas (UN Press Official, 10-27-23)

UN General Assembly calls for ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza leading to halt in Israel-Hamas fighting (AP News, 10-27-23)

Israel-Gaza war: UN general assembly calls for ‘immediate, durable humanitarian truce’ (The Guardian, 10-27-23)

US looks isolated after opposing UN resolution on Gaza truce (The Guardian, 10-28-23)