UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approves resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban over allegations that staffers are involved in terror.
The votes in the 193-nation world body are 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA.
The first resolution also includes a demand for the release of all hostages.
The votes culminate two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, which was sparked by the Palestinian terror group’s October 7, 2023, atrocities in southern Israel.
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly.
Israel and its close ally, the United States, are in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 12, 2024
