NEW YORK, OCTOBER 27 – The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution advanced by Jordan on the Israeli-Hamas conflict with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. Italy abstained on the text, which is a non-binding expression of the majority view of UN Member States. The United States voted against, France in favour, “given the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Nothing can justify the suffering of civilians”, said the French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere. Also Belgium Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain, all EU countries, voted in favour.
According to the Italian Permanent Representative to the UN, Maurizio Massari, three important elements were missing in the resolution: “The unequivocal condemnation in the strongest terms and without any ambiguity of the heinous attacks by Hamas last October 7th against innocent Israeli civilians; the recognition of legitimate right of self-defense of any State, of Israel in this case, under attack; finally, the resolution did not mention in explicit, unambiguous terms the humanitarian imperative to release immediately and unconditionally all hostages taken on October 7th and to treat them humanely. We could not support the resolution because of these three elements missing”.
The adoption marks the first formal response of the United Nations to the hostilities since the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October, after the Security Council failed on four occasions to reach consensus on any action. The resolution does not make specific mention of the militant group which controls Gaza, Hamas, one of the key issues which led to a Canadian amendment which failed to receive enough support. The votes on the amendment were 85 for, 55 against, with 23 abstentions, failing to get the required two-thirds majority. Italy voted in favour on the Canadian emendment. The adopted resolution calls for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce”, and demands all parties comply with international humanitarian law and “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of essential supplies and services into the Gaza Strip.
It also calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all civilians held captive as well as demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law. (@OnuItalia)
