UN General Assembly approves resolution calling for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday approved a resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip after Egypt and Mauritania formally requested an emergency meeting invoking resolution 377A.

The vote resulted in 153 votes in favor, 23 abstentions and ten votes against, including Israel, Guatemala, Czech Republic, Austria, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and the United States.

Specifically, the text “reiterates its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under International Law” regarding the protection of civilians, while also demanding “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

This comes after the United States vetoed a resolution presented to the UN Security Council to call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave and after the organization’s secretary general, António Guterres, invoked Article 99 of the Letter from the UN, thus warning of the situation in the Middle East and urging the body to “press to” avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.