The UN General Assembly passes a resolution calling for an “immediate lasting and sustained humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, but it is not binding

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday, while the United States voted against, adopted a non-binding resolution calling for an “immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire” and unhindered access to aid to bring food, goods and essential services to the civilian population of to the United Nations. Gaza Strip.

By 120 votes in favor, 14 against and 45 abstentions, the UN assembly approved Jordan’s proposed text, which mentions neither Hamas nor Israel, after rejecting an amendment from Canada calling for Hamas to be expressly condemned for the 7 attacks. October. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, most of them civilians.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that “without a fundamental change in the situation, the people of Gaza will suffer an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering.”

And the Jordanian foreign minister noted that an invasion of Gaza would cause a “catastrophe of many years.”

The resolution was ultimately approved by an overwhelming majority, with only Israel, the US and allies such as Paraguay, Guatemala and some Pacific states rejecting the resolution; Even Britain, which has shown almost complete agreement with the US during this crisis, has chosen to abstain.

The European Union was unveiled with a huge divide: France and Spain voted in favor; Hungary and Austria were against, while Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Poland abstained.

The resolution is not binding, like none from the General Assembly, but reflects the general feeling that, regardless of the causes of this current war – whether the more direct Hamas attacks or ‘the 56 years of occupation’, as UN Secretary General António said Guterres, the world is waiting for signs of reconciliation.

The international community, in turn, has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in the enclave, which was bombed and besieged by Israel in response to Hamas’ deadly attack on October 7.

Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed his “outright” rejection of the “despicable call by the United Nations for a ceasefire” in Gaza, following the resolution initiated in that regard by the Arab countries in the General Assembly had been approved.

“I categorically reject the UN’s despicable call for a ceasefire. “Israel plans to take action to eliminate Hamas as the world acted against the Nazis and ISIS (Islamic State),” the head of Israeli diplomacy said in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza

Israel announced Friday evening that it will “expand its ground operations in Gaza” and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which rules that territory, said it was “prepared” to confront.

On Friday, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said his forces will expand ground operations in the Gaza Strip from today, in parallel with the bombing of the enclave.

The army has not clarified whether the troop movement is the ground invasion to overthrow Hamas that it has been announcing for days, or whether it is a temporary incursion with tanks and infantry like those in recent days.

Israel has been carrying out small ground incursions in small parts of the Gaza Strip for two consecutive days in anticipation of the large-scale military ground offensive that they have been announcing for almost three weeks.

The military has indicated that these operations, which it calls raids, are a rehearsal for the large-scale ground invasion it has assured it will carry out when the time is right, a plan apparently delayed by the presence of some 230 hostages. in from the Hamas-occupied enclave.

The ground offensive is expected to take place in the north of the Strip, as Israel has repeatedly urged the civilian population of the northern half of the enclave, more than a million people, to move south for safety, although Israeli bombings cover the entire territory, including the south. (JO)