NEW YORK, June 13, 2025 (WAFA) – The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution late Thursday night calling for an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The resolution also strongly condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare and demanded the end of the Israeli blockade that continues to hinder humanitarian aid deliveries to the territory.
The resolution, introduced by 23 countries alongside Palestine and led by Spain, was passed during the General Assembly’s 10th Emergency Special Session with 149 votes in favor, 12 against, and 19 abstentions. The adoption comes after the UN Security Council failed to pass a similar resolution on June 4 due to a U.S. veto, despite support from all other Council members.
The adopted resolution calls on all parties to fully and immediately implement the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2735 (2024), passed on June 10, 2024. This includes a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the return of remains, the exchange of Palestinian detainees, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes across Gaza, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip.
It stresses the obligation of all parties to adhere to international law, particularly international humanitarian law, to protect civilians and ensure accountability for violations. The resolution specifically condemns the use of starvation as a weapon and the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, affirming the civilians’ right to essential survival resources.
The resolution reaffirms that the occupying power, Israel, is bound under international law to ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need. It demands the immediate, safe, and unhampered entry of aid into Gaza, including food, medicine, fuel, shelter materials, and clean water, in line with humanitarian principles and in coordination with the United Nations.
It also calls for the humane treatment and immediate release of arbitrarily detained persons, as well as the return of bodies, in compliance with international human rights and humanitarian laws.
The resolution recalls the General Assembly's earlier resolution 79/232 of December 19, 2024, requesting an urgent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s obligations as an occupying power, particularly regarding the work of the UN and international actors in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The resolution demands the immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade, the opening of all crossings, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. It further urges accountability to ensure Israel’s compliance with its international obligations and calls on all states, individually and collectively, to take necessary measures in line with the UN Charter.
The General Assembly emphasized the inviolability of UN staff and agencies and called on all states to respect the rights and protection of humanitarian and medical workers, as well as UN personnel, in accordance with international law.
It welcomed the UN’s joint plan to resume aid delivery in Gaza and reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in responding to the humanitarian crisis. The resolution rejected any attempts to undermine UNRWA’s mission and welcomed the implementation of recommendations from the independent “Colonna” review to ensure the agency’s neutrality.
Additionally, the resolution endorsed the joint recovery and reconstruction initiative presented by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, urging international support under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority. It encouraged participation in an international conference Egypt plans to host to discuss Gaza's recovery.
Reaffirming the commitment to a two-state solution, the resolution rejected any demographic or geographic changes in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It condemned forced displacement, illegal land seizures, settlement expansion, home demolitions, and settler violence. It called for immediate action to preserve the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and unify Gaza and the West Bank under Palestinian Authority governance.
While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant political and moral weight. This marks the third such resolution adopted since December 2024, reflecting growing international frustration over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the lack of progress toward a lasting peace.
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