The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a critical vote Thursday on a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, despite strong objections from the U.S. and Israel. The move follows last week’s U.S. veto of a similar Security Council proposal, reigniting debates over global diplomacy and humanitarian priorities.
Diplomats anticipate overwhelming support for the non-binding resolution among the UNGA’s 193 members, reflecting widespread concern over Gaza’s deepening crisis. Israel has criticized the vote as a "politically motivated charade," while the U.S. warned allies that opposing Israel could lead to diplomatic repercussions.
The resolution calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also condemns the use of starvation as a warfare tactic, urging unrestricted aid access to address what the UN describes as an imminent famine.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the text as "immensely flawed," arguing it fails to condemn Hamas’ October 2023 attacks, which killed 1,200 people in Israel and triggered the ongoing conflict. Gaza health authorities report over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, with civilians accounting for most casualties.
The vote precedes a UN conference next week aimed at reviving the two-state solution framework, a prospect the U.S. has discouraged allies from supporting. Previous UNGA resolutions demanding ceasefires in 2023 garnered 120–158 votes in favor, underscoring persistent international pressure to halt hostilities.
As global divisions deepen, Thursday’s vote highlights the growing gap between multilateral institutions and key Western allies on one of the world’s most polarizing conflicts.
