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.
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounti...
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a...
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions ...
Seven opposition parties in Georgia have formed a coordinated alliance ahead of upcoming elections, saying it aims...
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country&rs...
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounting diplomatic pressure and geopolitical tensions push the disaster further into the international spotlight.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
Shahid Motahari Sub-Speciality Hospital in northern Tehran and parts of the Golestan Palace were bombed on day two of the U.S.‑Israel strikes. AnewZ Touraj Shiralilou is in Iran's capital city and said that the facility was flattened in an airstrike.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Türkiye raised its security level for Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on Sunday (2 March). The development follows Iranian restrictions on shipping after U.S. and Israeli strikes and confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors as tensions continue to rise.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment