By Janet Ekstract- United Nations- On Friday, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip at the 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The resolution states the “grave concern” the nations have about the “latest escalation of violence” since the Hamas attack on October 7. In part, the reolution read that it condemns “all acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terror and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.”The resolution, presented by about 50 nations, including Turkiye, was approved in a vote of 120-14 with 45 nations in abstention. Some of the nations who voted in favor of the resolution include Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The resolution also stated: “all parties immediately and fully comply with their obligations under international law,” and emphasized how crucial it is in “preventing further destabilization and escalation of violence in the region.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Arab League lauded the U.N. resolution for its stance on calling for a humanitarian truce. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement: “The adoption of the resolution by a large majority reflects a clear trend in world public opinion that rejects the continuation of the aggression against the Gaza Strip due to its catastrophic humanitarian impact and the clear targeting of civilians.” Gheit added: “The resolution includes an emphasis on protecting civilians, opening humanitarian corridors and the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law.” In part, the wording of Friday’s U.N. General Assembly resolution calls for a “durable and sustained humanitarian truce. In addition, the resolution states that protecting civilians is of the highest priority and must be “in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” while calling for the “immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive.” The resolution’s passage comes after the rejection in the assembly of a Canadian amendment, supported by the U.S., denouncing the October 7 “terrorist attacks” by Hamas. It also follows four different draft resolutions previously vetoed within 10 days at the UN Security Council. Israel has labeled the resolution “despicable” in news reports.The call for a truce comes at a time when the entire Gaza Strip is now under a blackout with no internet service at all since all electricity was cut by Israel. As Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) CEO Melanie Ward stated on X: “As Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment continues to intensify, and a large-scale ground operation looks imminent, we have lost all contact with our team in #Gaza this evening.” Ward, referring to MAP official Mahmoud Shalabi, reporting from inside Gaza Strip said the fears are that there will be “massacres…done in total darkness.” The Palestine Telecommunications Company reported that on Friday evening, Tel Aviv completely cut off communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip. Ward added: “With Gaza now cut off from the world, we are terrified about what comes next.”
