Member States adopted a resolution, demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as “ensuring humanitarian access”.
It passed with a large majority of 153 in favour and 10 against, with 23 abstentions
The resolution also reiterated the General Assembly’s demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, “notably with regard to the protection of civilians”
Prior to the resolution, two amendments making specific reference to extremist group Hamas were voted down by members
“We have one priority
General Assembly
– one priority only – and
that is to save lives”. “We
have to stop this violence now”.
President Dennis Francis
Ahead of the vote, General Assembly President Dennis Francis said the world was witnessing an “unprecedented collapse” of a “real-time” humanitarian system, and deemed it high time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The resolution adopted by the General Assembly on Tuesday differs significantly from the text vetoed by the United States in the Council on Friday.
The text takes note of a letter dated December 7 from the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), addressed to the President of the General Assembly. In this letter, Philippe Lazzarini warns that the agency’s ability to implement its mandate in Gaza is “severely limited”, and that the main humanitarian aid platform for over 2.2 million people in the enclave is “on the verge of collapse”.
The text also refers to previous resolutions on the question of Palestine, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions on the subject.
The main points in common between the two texts include an immediate humanitarian ceasefire; the demand that all parties respect their obligations under international law, particularly with regard to the protection of civilians; the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the guarantee of humanitarian access.
Text of the adopted resolution
Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations
The General Assembly,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling its resolutions regarding the question of Palestine,
Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions,
Taking note of the letter dated 6 December 2023 from the Secretary-General, under Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council,
Taking note also of the letter dated 7 December 2023 from the CommissionerGeneral of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the President of the General Assembly,
Expressing grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population, and emphasizing that the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law,
- Demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire;
- Reiterates its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians;
- Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access;
- Decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.
The resolution does not condemn Hamas or make any specific reference to the extremist group.
The amendments
Two amendments proposed to the text of the General Assembly resolution on Tuesday were rejected in separate votes.
Austria has proposed an amendment, that inserts the phrase, “held by Hamas and other groups” in relation to the hostages still being held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, as well as inserting the word “immediate” in reference to ensuring humanitarian access.
The US amendment reflects its continued point of contention regarding Hamas, which it designates as a terrorist group, calling for wording to be inserted “unequivocally” rejecting and condemning “the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages” as the first operative paragraph.
Not binding, but influential
Resolutions by the General Assembly, though not legally binding on nations, do carry immense moral weight, representing the collective resolve of the UN membership on a matter of grave importance.
These resolutions also lead to key legal frameworks and standards, such as the over 60 human rights instruments underpinning the international rights regime, which emanate from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Declaration was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1948, and by itself is not binding.
Emergency session
General Assembly adopts resolution on Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations in Gaza.
The session today is a continuation of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly that last met on 26 October amid the present crisis in Gaza, during which it adopted a resolution on the crisis, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.”
The General Assembly will resume the emergency session on Friday afternoon in New York starting at 3pm
