Gaza peace hopes as UN General Assembly demands 'unconditional' truce

The UN General Assembly called by a very large majority for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic call rejected by Israel and the U.S.

"We will continue to knock on the door of the Security Council and the Assembly until a ceasefire is put in place," said Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour. "Gaza is the bleeding heart of Palestine and an open wound for humanity."

The resolution, adopted to applause by 158 votes in favor, nine against and 13 abstentions, demands "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" as well as "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages", a formulation similar to the text blocked a few weeks ago in the Security Council by an American veto.

The U.S. again used its veto power to protect its Israeli ally, which has been leading a military offensive in the Palestinian territory for over a year in retaliation for Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

"Today's vote is not a vote of compassion, it is a vote of "betrayal" and an "abandonment" of the hostages, said Israeli ambassador Danny Danon. Deputy American ambassador Robert Wood said adopting the resolution would be "shameful" and "risks sending Hamas the dangerous message there is no need to negotiate or release the hostages."

Chinese wants peace truce

Ambassador Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, urged the international community to push for a ceasefire. 

"The world cannot revert to an era dominated by the law of the jungle, and we can't allow the law of the jungle to become the new norm. We must push for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza," he said.

"A ceasefire is essential for saving lives and restoring peace. Tying the ceasefire to other issues or setting preconditions for it actually gives a green light to the continuation of conflict and connives at ongoing killings. We must uphold the authority of international law, fulfill our obligations under it, and tolerate no exceptions."

A second resolution expressing support for UNRWA and deploring a new Israeli law that would ban the UN agency's operations in Israel was carried with 159 votes in favor, nine against and 11 abstentions.

On Thursday, Israelis and Palestinians are signalling new efforts to forge a ceasefire deal, even a limited one, for the first time in a year that would pause the fighting in Gaza and return to Israel some of the hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call on Wednesday there was now a chance for a new deal that would allow the return of all the hostages, including U.S. citizens. 

Such a truce and release would be only the second since the start of the war in October 2023.

The guarded optimism has emerged as U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan heads to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday before heading to Egypt and Qatar, co-mediators on a deal.

'Appalling and apocalyptic'

Despite the intense diplomatic moves, Israel's offense shows no sign of relenting with a fresh wave of attacks just hours after the UN vote.

Gaza's civil defense agency reported airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks in southern parts of the Palestinian territory.

Seven guards were killed in a strike in Rafah, while another attack left five guards dead in Khan Younis, added the agency spokesperson.

In the occupied West Bank overnight, a suspected Palestinian shooting attack on an Israeli bus killed a child around the age of 12, Israeli emergency services said.

The UN and other aid organizations have repeatedly warned about the acute humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

"Conditions for people across the Gaza Strip are appalling and apocalyptic," UNRWA spokesperson Louise Wateridge said during a visit to Nuseirat in central Gaza.

She added that life-saving aid to "besieged areas in north Gaza governorate has been largely blocked" since the Israeli military launched a sweeping assault several weeks ago.