A displaced family leaves the eastern area of Deir Albalah after Israeli authorities issued an evacuation order for the area.
This article is published in association with United Nations.
That’s a wrap
That’s it for our live coverage of the General Assembly’s emergency session on protection of civilians in Gaza, although the debate is set to continue.
Prior to the vote, President Philémon Yang remarked that once again the Assembly was called upon to take the lead in addressing the unacceptable and catastrophic situation in the enclave.
The resolution was passed as humanitarians continue to highlight the immense suffering there. The total collapse of internet services on Thursday has only increased their difficulties in reaching the population.
Next week, the UN will hold a high-level conference on the implementation of the two-State solution between Israelis and Palestinians, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
UN News production team: Dianne Penn, Matt Wells, Ana Carmo, Anna O’Donnell, Naima Sawaya, Steve DeCaul.Today 12:02 π.μ.
UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza
General Assembly adopts resolution
UN News
Applause rang out in the General Assembly as members adopted the resolution, with 149 out of 193 countries voting in favour, thus attaining the required two-thirds majority.
Twelve countries voted against the resolution and 19 abstained.
The US joined Israel in opposing the text, along with Argentina, Fiji, Hungary, Micronesia, Paraguay, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Tuvalu. 12 Ιουν 2025 11:39 μ.μ.
US urges condemnation of Hamas, release of hostages
Acting US Representative Dorothy Shea echoed Israel’s criticism of the resolution, highlighting the failure to condemn Hamas.
Following reported attacks by Hamas on the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Aid Foundation – which bypasses the UN aid operation – she said the draft instead represented a reward to Hamas for its actions.
“We do not support one-sided measures that fail to condemn Hamas,” she told delegates.
UN News
Ms. Shea urged the hall to support diplomatic efforts currently underway to release hostages and support the foundation’s privatised distribution network.
Ms. Shea said a sustainable peace would only be possible through direct negotiations: “This resolution does nothing to bring calm to Gaza. It also does nothing to advance a real diplomatic solution to advance the cause of peace.”12 Ιουν 2025 11:34 μ.μ.
Russia: ‘Do everything necessary’ to stop the bloodshed in Gaza
UN News
In affirming the Russian Federation would vote for the resolution, Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that over the course of 20 months of ongoing hostilities, the international community has used all possible phrases to describe the “inhumane tragedy.”
“There was a time when the world was still horrified that the number of those killed in the Gaza Strip was approaching 15-, 20- or 30,000 people,” Mr. Nebenzya said. “Now that number is almost twice that — 55,000.”
He said that it was the duty of the international community to do everything necessary to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, which he called a “slaughter.”
“These figures are simply unfathomable, particularly since the people behind the figures are far from being fighters armed to the teeth that are threatening Israeli civilians. They are ordinary Palestinians taking shelter in schools, hospitals and refugee camps and standing in line for humanitarian assistance,” he said.
In expressing Russia’s support for the resolution, he said that it not only outlines key humanitarian goals but also helpfully speaks to the future of Gaza and Israel.
“In that future, there is no place for forced displacement, demographic or territorial changes, or the construction of illegal settlements. Just as there is no place for terrorism or violence.”12 Ιουν 2025 11:22 μ.μ.
Gaza: Aid obstacles still hinder our work, says UN worker
The aid situation in war-shattered Gaza continues to deteriorate and people are getting hungrier because of the “very limited” volume of food being allowed in, humanitarians say.
“The only way to address the situation on the ground is by reopening additional crossings,” insists Olga Cherevko, who works with the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.
She spoke to UN News from Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
Listen here. 12 Ιουν 2025 11:14 μ.μ.
Arab Group urges international community to ‘put an end to the tragedy’
UN News
Ambassador Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi of Yemen spoke on behalf of the Arab Group.
He expressed deep appreciation for the swift response to hold the emergency session in light of the continued suffering of the Palestinian people.
“We meet today, once again under the dome of this General Assembly, not to repeat words about the tragedy but to put an end to the tragedy,” he said.
He added that the Arab Group reiterates that what is taking place in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered a traditional armed conflict. Rather, it is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent effective action from the United Nations, and in particular, the General Assembly.
“The inability of the Security Council to undertake its responsibility because of the use of the veto does not relieve the international community or other States from the need and the duty to act,” he said.
“In fact, the duty becomes more pressing and urgent in order to maintain international peace and security and to respect international law and justice.”12 Ιουν 2025 11:07 μ.μ.
Israel calls for condemnation of Hamas
UN News
Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon highlighted the continuing anguish of the 53 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas militants and others inside Gaza.
He criticised the assembly for not fighting harder for their release, and for the failure to provide even one line in the resolution of condemnation for Hamas.
“You gather here today not to demand their release, not to call out the terrorist regime. No. Today, you vote on the resolution that does not condition a ceasefire on the hostages’ freedom, a resolution that refuses to condemn the captors, a resolution that rewards the terrorists responsible for their suffering.”
He said the resolution failed to advance peace and fails to reflect the reality on the ground.
Mr. Dannon underscored the ceasefire framework created by Qatar, Egypt and the United States that Israel has endorsed, noting that Hamas continues to reject the deal.
“Hamas is not interested in peace. It is interested in survival, delay, and the prolonging of terror.”12 Ιουν 2025 10:44 μ.μ.
Palestine: ‘We want to see life prevail’ once and for all
On the 614th day of violence in Gaza, Riyad Mansour, the Permanent Representative of the Observer State of Palestine, called on Member States to vote in favour of the resolution, saying that the world must take all measures necessary to “end this genocide.”
“No arms, no money, no trade to oppress Palestinians, to ethnically cleanse them and steal their land,” he said.
Mr. Mansour also said that the international community must ensure that Israel complies with its international obligations as an occupying power to provide humanitarian aid to all Palestinians, noting that Israel continues to disregard UN resolutions and international humanitarian law.
Stand with humanity
He noted and thanked all of those around the world who have mobilized to end the conflict in Gaza, saying that these people were “standing up for humanity” and reiterated his hope for a two-State solution in which Israel and Palestine live side-by-side in peace and security.
“It is not with more massacres and more occupation and more displacement and more annexation that this conflict will end,” Mr. Mansour said.
“It is by breaking the cycle of violence through the fulfilment of our fundamental rights and the achievement of shared peace and security that we will bring this conflict to a close.”12 Ιουν 2025 10:40 μ.μ.
Recap: UN’s ‘detailed, principled’ aid plan for Gaza
In his remarks, the Spanish Ambassador underlined support for the UN’s plan to resume aid delivery to Gaza.
Secretary-General António Guterres recently outlined the five-stage plan to journalists in New York.
The UN has repeatedly stressed that it will not take part in any aid scheme for Gaza that fails to respect international law or basic humanitarian principles.12 Ιουν 2025 10:32 μ.μ.
Uphold international law, allow aid in: Spain
Ambassador Héctor José Gómez Hernández of Spain introduced the draft resolution and thanked the countries that co-sponsored it.
He said Spain, together with Palestine, had been working on the draft, which demands that parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
The text also demands the immediate and permanent facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza, including food and medical supplies, fuel, shelter and access to clean drinking water.
UN News
“In this regard, the draft resolution welcomes and expresses support for the United Nations’ coordinated plan to resume humanitarian aid deliverance to Gaza,” he said.
The draft also underscores the obligation of parties to respect and protect civilians, and to spare civilian objects, he added.
In particular, it calls upon all States to respect and protect all UN, humanitarian and associated staffers.
The Ambassador requested that the debate be suspended at 4 PM to allow for the adoption of a decision on the draft.
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