(NewsInsights.org) – The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution on Tuesday, December 12, to protect civilians and uphold legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. It included provisions demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. Notably, 10 countries opposed the resolution, including Israel and the United States.
Austria joined the US and Israel in opposing the resolution. The other seven countries that opposed the move included Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Micronesia, Liberia, Guatemala, and Czechia. Additionally, 23 nations abstained from voting, including the United Kingdom (UK), Hungary, Germany, Italy, Malawi, Argentina, the Netherlands, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Uruguay, among others. The UK also abstained from the UN Security Council resolution vote, which the US vetoed on Friday, December 8.
Although the resolution is non-binding, it demands that all parties comply with the obligations under international law with specific emphasis on protecting civilians and mitigating harm. Several humanitarian groups have loudly voiced concerns that Israel’s policies toward Gaza have caused an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders are among the relief agencies critical of Israel’s policies and the US refusal to hold its ally accountable for the ethically reprehensible and legally questionable actions the Israeli government has taken against the millions of innocent people of Gaza in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas. Both organizations expressed hope that the resolution might stem the tide of civilian casualties.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported more than 18,000 people have died since the war with Israel began. Hostilities have displaced nearly 2 million residents. Israel has curtailed shipments of food and medical supplies into the territory since the start of the war.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN World Food have estimated the percentage of households suffering from inadequate food intake exceeds 97% in northern Gaza and 83% in Southern Gaza. However, as fighting encroaches into the latter, where refugees fled to escape, the situation could become more dire.
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