UN demands Gaza ceasefire and hostage release but nine countries including US oppose

The resolution passed after winning 158 votes in favour, with nine countries opposing and 12 abstaining

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The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a Palestinian-led resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages being held there, but nine countries including the US voted against it.

The non-binding resolution demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It also demanded “immediate access” to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, especially in the besieged north of the territory.

The resolution gathered 158 votes in favour, with nine countries opposing and 12 abstaining. A similar measure last year gathered 153 votes, showing an increase in support.

The nine nations voting against the ceasefire resolution were the US, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and the Czech Republic.

“We hope that this very powerful message against only a handful of countries that voted against is another step in the direction of accomplishing the ceasefire in which the entire international community is calling for,” Palestine's UN representative Riyad Mansour told reporters.

In a separate vote, the Assembly passed a resolution urging Israel to uphold the mandate of Palestinian aid agency UNRWA and allow its “safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance” operations.

It repeats UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s statements that UNRWA is “the backbone” of all humanitarian operations in Gaza and no organisation can replace it. This follows Israel's decision to ban the agency, a measure due to take effect on January 28, drawing widespread international condemnation including from the Biden administration, a key Israeli ally.

This measure received 159 votes in favour, nine against, and 11 abstentions.

The nine countries opposing the resolution were: Argentina, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the US.

Speaking before the vote, US deputy ambassador Robert Wood warned member states that at a time when Hamas is feeling isolated due to the ceasefire in Lebanon, the UN resolution did not do enough to ensure the release of hostages.

“It would be shameful and wrong if the General Assembly voted today to vindicate Hamas’s cynical strategy of stalling and obstruction,” he said. “Indeed, rather than relieving pressure on Hamas, the General Assembly should be adopting a resolution that increases pressure on Hamas to accept the deal on the table without condition and without further delays.”

Addressing the separate UNRWA resolution, Mr Wood said it had “serious flaws”. He noted the resolution lacks provisions to restore trust between Israel and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, despite US-led efforts to propose such measures.

On November 20, Washington exercised its veto power in the Security Council, a move consistent with past actions to protect its ally. The veto blocked a resolution urging a ceasefire in the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began after the militant group's October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

The US maintained that any ceasefire must be tied to the release of all hostages.

“Gaza doesn't exist any more. It is destroyed,” Slovenia’s UN representative Samuel Zbogar said. “History is the harshest critic of inaction.”

Mr Zbogar underscored the need for urgent measures to secure a different future for Palestinian children, emphasising that achieving a ceasefire and ending the war in Gaza are critical steps.

Israel, predictably, strongly condemned the ceasefire resolution, which includes a call for Mr Guterres to develop “proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability”.

“By approving this resolution, you are abandoning the hostages and choosing co-operation with Hamas. History will not forget this choice, and neither will we,” said Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon.

Mr Danon also presented to the 193-member General Assembly dozens of letters that Israel sent to UNRWA and the UN about alleged evidence showing that Hamas had taken over the agency and is operating from within its facilities in Gaza.