The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will vote on a draft resolution today, demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire against Israel’s offensive in Gaza after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week, Reuters reports.
The 193-member General Assembly is likely to adopt the text with overwhelming support, diplomats say, despite Israel lobbying countries this week against taking part in what it called a “politically-motivated, counter-productive charade”.
The draft resolution to be voted on by the UNGA demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
It demands unhindered aid access and “strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians … of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supply and access”.
“This is both false and defamatory,” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon wrote in a letter to UN member states, sent earlier this week and seen by Reuters.
Danon described the UNGA draft resolution as an “immensely flawed and harmful text”, urging countries not to take part in what he said was a “farce” that undermines hostage negotiations and fails to condemn Hamas.
