In the News
UN General Assembly Emergency Session Votes for Ceasefire in Gaza
On December 12, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The United States and Israel were joined in opposing the resolution by eight countries – Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay. One hundred and fifty-three countries, including Canada, voted in favour of the resolution, and 23 abstained. This is a higher vote in favour than for the October 27 resolution that called for a "humanitarian truce" (120-14 with 45 abstentions). Following the overwhelming support for the resolution demanding a cease fire, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric pointed out that despite being non-binding, the resolution nonetheless reflects world public opinion and is very important.
The
United States once again sought to divert attention from the urgent
need for consensus for a ceasefire by once again proposing to add a
paragraph stating that the assembly "unequivocally rejects and condemns
the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas." Austria also proposed an
amendment that would have added that the captives "held by Hamas and
other groups" should be released "immediately." Both proposed
amendments were voted down.
The emergency session followed a formal request by Egypt and Mauritania invoking the UN's Resolution 377, known as "Uniting for Peace." They did so after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution on December 8 calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Resolution 377 empowers the General Assembly to act in any cases where the Security Council, because of a lack of unanimity among its five permanent members, fails to uphold its responsibility to maintain international security and peace.
Once again, action by the countries of the world is hampered by the fact that General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. Many countries are nonetheless striving to hold Israel and the United States accountable for the crimes against the Palestinians. The General Assembly vote definitely reflects the growing isolation of the United States which is responsible for the crimes Israel is committing in Gaza and all of occupied Palestine.
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 30 - December, 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS53301.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca