The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a plea that has been rejected by both Israel and the United States.
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour emphasized the urgency, stating, \"We will continue to knock on the door of the Security Council and the Assembly until a ceasefire is put in place. Gaza is the bleeding heart of Palestine and an open wound for humanity.\"
The resolution saw 158 votes in favor, nine against, and 13 abstentions, echoing similar demands blocked in the Security Council by the U.S. earlier.
Despite the global call, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the vote as a \"betrayal\" and an \"abandonment\" of hostages. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood labeled the resolution as \"shameful,\" arguing it could embolden Hamas by signaling there is no need to negotiate or release hostages.
Chinese Wants Peace TruceAmbassador 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 stated.
\"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.\"
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Gaza peace hopes as UN General Assembly demands 'unconditional' truce
cgtn.com
