10-28-2023, 07:45 AM
UN overwhelmingly calls for aid truce between Israel and Hamas
![[Image: df1b4d41-ap23300728762010.jpg]](https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/df1b4d41-ap23300728762010.jpg)
UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly called for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and demanded aid access to the besieged Gaza Strip and protection of civilians.
The resolution drafted by Arab states is not binding but carries political weight, taking the global temperature as Israel steps up ground operations in Gaza in retaliation for the worst Hamas attack on civilians in Israel’s 75-year-old history.
It passed to a round of applause with 120 votes in favour, while 45 abstained and 14 – including Israel and the US – voted no. Iraq later changed its vote to yes from an abstention after complaining of a technical difficulty, so the final tally was 121 votes in favour and 44 abstentions.
A two-thirds majority was needed for the resolution to pass, in which abstentions do not count. The General Assembly voted after the Security Council failed four times in the past two weeks to take action.
- More -
The resolution drafted by Arab states is not binding but carries political weight, taking the global temperature as Israel steps up ground operations in Gaza in retaliation for the worst Hamas attack on civilians in Israel’s 75-year-old history.
It passed to a round of applause with 120 votes in favour, while 45 abstained and 14 – including Israel and the US – voted no. Iraq later changed its vote to yes from an abstention after complaining of a technical difficulty, so the final tally was 121 votes in favour and 44 abstentions.
A two-thirds majority was needed for the resolution to pass, in which abstentions do not count. The General Assembly voted after the Security Council failed four times in the past two weeks to take action.
- More -