In a powerful display of international consensus, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday in favor of an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. However, 12 countries voted against the resolution, reflecting deep divisions over Israel's ongoing war on the besieged Palestinian territory.

149 countries supported the resolution, which also called for unrestricted humanitarian aid access, the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The resolution strongly condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, the unlawful denial of humanitarian assistance, and the deprivation of essential life-sustaining items to civilians.

Countries that voted against the resolution:

• United States

• Israel

• Argentina

• Hungary

• Fiji

• Papua New Guinea

• Paraguay

• Micronesia

• Nauru

• Palau

• Tonga

• Tuvalu

Countries that abstained from voting (19), including:

India, Czech Republic, Romania, Albania, Ethiopia, Cameroon, South Sudan, Slovakia, Panama, and more.

While resolutions by the General Assembly are non-binding, they carry significant political and moral weight, especially as they are not subject to veto power unlike those in the UN Security Council. This vote highlights the growing global frustration with the continuing violence in Gaza.