Last night, the United Nations General Assembly made a significant decision to call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the immediate and unconditional release of all the abductees.” The vote, with 153 countries in favor and only ten against, marked a significant shift in international opinion on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Before the vote, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, made a passionate speech addressing the ambassadors in the hall. He held up a sign with a phone number and urged the audience to call and ask for Yahya Sinwar if they wanted a ceasefire. Erdan emphasized that a ceasefire will only prolong the suffering and leave Hamas terrorists in power. He challenged the other countries in the assembly, asking what they would do if faced with the same situation as Israel.
The majority vote in favor of the declaration is a clear indication of the growing international support for a ceasefire in the region. This is in contrast to a similar vote held only about a month and a half ago, in which 120 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 14 countries against, and 45 abstained. The current declaration, passed by 153 countries with only 10 opposed and 23 abstentions, shows a significant increase in support for the ceasefire.
It is essential to note that the UN’s decision is declarative and not legally binding. However, it sends a strong message of international concern and support for a ceasefire. In response to the UN’s decision, Hamas welcomed the statement and demanded continued pressure on Israel to comply with the call for a ceasefire.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in numerous civilian casualties and immense suffering on both sides. The international community’s call for a ceasefire is a crucial step towards ending the violence and establishing peace in the region. As the situation continues to unfold, the world waits to see how the involved parties will respond to the UN’s declaration.