The United Nations (UN) has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the fight between Israel and Hamas.
This comes as US Vice President Joe Biden warned the Benjamin Natanyahu-led government was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate” killing of Hamas militants.
Following dire warnings from UN officials about a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the 193-member UN General Assembly supported a resolution calling for a ceasefire, with 153 countries voting in favor and 23 abstaining.
Biden and Natanyahu, who argue that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas, voted against the motion, along with eight other countries.
The resolution is not legally binding, but it carries political weight because it represents a global perspective on the war.
The US blocked a similar request in the Security Council’s 15-member body last week.
The Palestinian Authority praised the resolution and urged other countries to exert pressure on Israel to enforce the ceasefire.
Izzat El-Reshiq, a Hamas official in exile, reiterated that stance in a Telegram statement, saying Israel should “stop its aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against our people.”
Biden stated prior to the resolution’s passage that Israel now has the support of “the majority of the world,” including the United States and the European Union.
