| UNGeneral Assembly Resolution ES-10/22 | |
|---|---|
 In favour Against Abstentions Absent Non member | |
| Date | 12 December 2023 |
| Meeting no. | 10th Emergency Special Session (continuation) |
| Code | A/ES-10/22 (Document) |
| Subject | Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations. |
Voting summary |
|
| Result | Adopted |
United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/22 is a resolution of thetenth emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire in theGaza war, "immediate and unconditional" hostage release, "ensuring humanitarian access" and that "all parties comply with their obligations under international law".
On 27 October 2023, the General Assembly passedresolution ES-10/21 calling for a humanitarian truce with a 121 votes for, 14 against and 44 abstentions.[1]
ES-10/22 followed a similar motion calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in theUN Security Council (UNSC) proposed by the UAE. The resolution received 13 votes for and 1 abstention with the US vetoing it.[2]
The resolution proposed byEgypt received an amendment byAustria, which inserted the phrase "held by Hamas and other groups," in relation tothe hostages held byHamas and other groups in Gaza, and inserting the word "immediate" when referring to ensuring that humanitarian access be maintained,[3] which did not gain the two-thirds majority required, with 89 votes for, 61 against and 21 abstentions, so was not adopted.[4] An amendment from the United States of America, calling for wording rejecting and condemning "heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages" in resolution's first paragraph, garnered 84 votes for, 62 against and 25 abstentions so did not reach the two-thirds threshold to be carried.[3]
On December 13, Australian Foreign MinisterPenny Wong said that Australia supported the resolution out of concern for civilians inGaza Strip, adding that "Australia has consistently affirmed Israel's right to defend itself...in doing so, we have said as Israel must respect international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals."Reuters described this as it as "a rare split with...the United States" and noted that Canada, Australia and New Zealand released a joint statement on December 12 supporting the ceasefire.[7][8]Riyad Mansour, thePalestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, described the vote as "historic" and said the resolution demands an end to the conflict, and said "we will not rest until we see compliance of Israel with this demand." The IsraeliPermanent Representative to the United Nations,Gilad Erdan argued that the resolution was "disgraceful" attempt to restrain Israel, and claimed that "continuing Israel's operation in Gaza is the only way any hostages will be released."[9][10] He also claimed that supporting the resolution gave terrorists "a free pass," declared that "a ceasefire will prolong the death and destruction in the region" and said the resolution was "hypocritical".[11][10]
Mathu Joyini, South Africa's UN representative, invoked South Africa's painful experience withapartheid and said that countries need to take action "in accordance with international law" and called the resolution "an opportunity...to illustrate that the [UN]...is not tone-deaf to the suffering of the most vulnerable."Munir Akram, the Pakistanipermanent representative to the U.N., denounced the amendments proposed by the US and Austria as "condemn[ing] only one side but exonerate the other" and arguing that blame "has to be placed on both parties, especially on Israel," and noted that if Hamas was named, but not Israel, it "provide[s] a justification to the Israeli war machine to continue its roulette wheel of death."[11][9]Linda Thomas-Greenfield, theUS ambassador to the UN, stated that the US saw the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "dire" and that "civilians must be protected with international humanitarian law," she urged nations to support an amendment condemning Hamas, and said that a "ceasefire...would be temporary at best, and dangerous at worst...to Israelis...and...Palestinians." Izzat Al-Rishq, member of theHamas Political Bureau welcomed the resolution and condemned what he described as a "war of genocide and ethnic cleansing" against Palestinians.[9]
Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Saudi ambassador to the UN, supported the resolution, sayingSaudi Arabia was voting in favor to end "the suffering caused by an inhumane military attack by the Israeli occupation forces," called for an immediate ceasefire to end the conflict, and the need for "a comprehensive and just solution for the Palestinian question" aligned with theArab Peace Initiative, thetwo-state solution, and establishment of "a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."[11] The ChinesePermanent Representative to the United Nations,Zhang Jun stated that the events in Gaza "is a tragedy, and we must do more."[8] In a press release on December 12,Council on American–Islamic Relations National Executive DirectorNihad Awad expressed support for the resolution and called on the US government to "change course" and for countries across the world to "pressure the Israeli government to end its campaign of terror in Gaza."[12] In a statement to reporters supporting Canada's vote in favor of the resolution, Foreign Affairs MinisterMélanie Joly said "from the very beginning we have said that Israel has the right to defend itself. How Israel defends itself matters...What is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence. This will not lead to the durable defeat of Hamas." TheCanadian Ambassador to the UN,Bob Rae toldCBC that the "status quo" of the fighting is not sustainable "from a humanitarian perspective" whileLiberal Party parliament membersAnthony Housefather andMarco Mendicino disagreed with Canada's UN vote.[13]
On 19 December, a statement from the Liberian information ministry claimed that the nation's president,George Weah, had intervened to reverse its vote on the resolution, from opposing a ceasefire to supporting a ceasefire. Liberia was the only African member-state to vote against the ceasefire. President Weah claimed the Liberian diplomats at the UN voted on the matter without his support.[14]
Part of theGaza–Israel conflict, theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, and theMiddle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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