UN General Assembly adopts resolutions demanding Gaza ceasefire and affirming UNRWA support News
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UN General Assembly adopts resolutions demanding Gaza ceasefire and affirming UNRWA support

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted two key resolutions during its resumed tenth emergency special session, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The first resolution urged an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of all hostages. The General Assembly adopted Resolution A/ES-10/L.33 with 158 nations in favor. Nine nations voted against the resolution, including Argentina, Israel, Hungary, Czechia, and the United States. 13 nations abstained from the vote. The resolution requires all states involved in the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international law, including protecting civilians under humanitarian law. The resolution also required the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2735, which called for Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, the release of hostages, the return of Palestinians to their homes in Gaza, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

The second resolution expressed support for the UNRWA and the need for accountability. Resolution A/ES-10/L.32 reaffirmed the UN’s support for UNRWA in light of legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset on October 28, 2024, that seeks to halt UNRWA operations in Israel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that this legislation “would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Guterres added: “The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees.”

With the adoption of this resolution, the General Assembly demanded Israel to “respect the privileges and immunities of the Agency and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon was particularly vocal against the General Assembly’s support for UNRWA’s mandate. In a speech, Danon highlighted a series of letters Israel had sent to the UN regarding Hamas’s presence in UNRWA’s facilities. The European Union and multiple human rights organizations, however, have already voiced their concerns over Israel’s ban on UNRWA. Amnesty International, for instance, stated the ban criminalizes humanitarian aid and could worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Palestinians are currently facing an intense humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while international efforts seek to ensure the dismantling of a conflict that has now developed for more than a year. A recent UNRWA report found that 1.9 million people are displaced in the Gaza Strip, with only seven of the 27 UNRWA health centers in operation.

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