The UN General Assembly adopted an Arab-drafted resolution today calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, after rejecting a Canadian amendment that would have condemned the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas and demanded immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called it “a day that will go down in infamy.”
The resolution was adopted by a vote of 120 to 14 with 45 abstentions.
Outrageously, the resolution failed to condemn Hamas for its October 7th massacre of 1400 Israelis, or for its abduction of more than 200 Israelis including children and babies, or even to mention the word Hamas.
The resolution also failed to recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens against terrorism.
The resolution calls for “immediate, full, sustained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access…to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid” but, as noted by the Czech Republic, doesn’t provide assurances that this will not be abused by Hamas and other terrorists.
The text also calls on Israel, “the occupying power,” to rescind its order to evacuate northern Gaza.
Prior to taking action on the resolution, an amendment led by Canada did not pass, as it failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. That amendment would have “unequivocally reject[ed] and condemn[ed] the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages.”
LIST OF SHAME: These EU countries just joined 🇮🇷Iran, 🇸🇾Syria and 🇷🇺Russia in voting for a resolution that fails to name Hamas or specifically call for release of hostages.
🇧🇪Belgium
🇫🇷France
🇮🇪Ireland
🇱🇺Luxembourg
🇲🇹Malta
🇵🇹Portugal
🇸🇮Slovenia
🇪🇸Spain+🇨🇭Switzerland, 🇳🇴Norway pic.twitter.com/R1jzMof7vM
- UN Watch (@UNWatch) October 27, 2023
Proving Abba Eban's timeless observation: “If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring the earth was flat and Israel had flattened it, it would pass by 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions.” This UN text fails to condemn the Hamas massacre or to support Israel's right to self-defence. https://t.co/3FlqAHcdH6
- Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) October 28, 2023
UNGA Session, 26 and 27 October 2023
- Videos
- Session of 26 October 2023 [3 hours 16 minutes]
- Morning session of 27 October 2023 [3 hours 34 minutes]
- Afternoon session of 27 October 2023 [3 hours 44 minutes]
- Documents
- Draft resolution A/ES-10/L.25 (adopted 27 October)
- Letter from UNGA President convening the session, 23 October 2023
