The United Nations General Assembly, including Azerbaijan, has overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Meeting in emergency session, 149 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while just 12 opposed it and 19 abstained. Among those voting against were the United States and Israel, alongside Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay and a handful of others. Abstentions included India, Georgia, Ecuador, Romania, and Ethiopia.
The resolution, spearheaded by more than 20 nations, strongly condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war and calls for the complete lifting of the Israeli blockade to allow unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza. It also reinforces the obligation to protect civilians and uphold international law.
Though General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, Thursday's vote is a powerful expression of global political will, especially after the U.S. last week vetoed a similar measure in the Security Council, leaving the body paralysed.
General Assembly President Philémon Yang opened the special session with stark criticism of the Security Council’s failure to act, calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza “unacceptable.” He cited reports of ongoing civilian deaths, widespread hunger, and limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and medicine.
Yang also drew attention to the plight of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, while expressing hope that an upcoming high-level meeting in New York, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, might bring fresh momentum toward a two-state solution.
Ceasefire: Calls for an immediate and unconditional halt to hostilities.
Hostage Release: Demands the freeing of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.
Humanitarian Access: Insists on safe and unimpeded delivery of aid throughout Gaza.
International Law: Reaffirms the obligation to protect civilians and ensure accountability for violations.
End to Blockade: Demands Israel lift the blockade and open all border crossings.
Accountability: Urges Member States to ensure Israeli compliance with international law.
Medical Protection: Underscores the neutrality of health workers and calls for the safeguarding of medical facilities.
UN Protection: Demands respect for UN and humanitarian workers, their missions, and immunity.
ICJ Advisory Opinion: Recalls the General Assembly’s previous request for legal clarity on Israel’s responsibilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The vote comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Famine conditions are reportedly widespread, and recent incidents have seen civilians injured or killed while seeking food at distribution points, many of which operate outside of UN control but receive U.S. and Israeli support.
The new resolution also backs the full implementation of Security Council resolution 2735 (2024), which includes provisions for a ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners, the return of displaced persons, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
As the crisis drags into its 20th month, the General Assembly has stepped in where the Security Council has stalled—offering a forceful international demand for peace, protection, and accountability.
Attention now shifts to next week’s diplomatic talks in New York, where world leaders will gather to explore long-term solutions, including the long-elusive two-state framework. In the meantime, humanitarian organizations continue to call for urgent aid access, protection of civilians, and respect for international norms in the conflict zone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the...
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dolla...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 21 July covered the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, rising trade tensions between the United States and Canada, and key regional and international developments.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first major step in a U.S.-brokered plan to reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dollars annually. The UN estimates scam losses across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand reached up to $114.1 billion in 2025.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment