After the continuous failure of the UN Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution, with a 2/3rd majority, calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza.
In the last three weeks, the Security Council has repeatedly failed to take decisions regarding humanitarian ceasefires despite having a series of meetings.
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Since October 7, more than 7,000 civilians, including 3,500 children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip due to a heinous and barbaric attack by Israel. More than one million people have been displaced. In the last 20 days, several proposals were tabled in the Security Council.
However, not a single proposal succeeded in passing. Finally, today, in the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session of the UNGA, a resolution with the proposal of a humanitarian truce was adopted with 2/3rd majority.
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In the voting, 121 countries voted in favour of the resolution, 14 voted against it, and 45 countries abstained.
The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit, represented Bangladesh in the voting.
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After the adoption of the resolution, Ambassador Muhit said the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the Palestine issue were very clear.
"In her statement delivered at the high level of the 78th UNGA, she strongly urged the international community to work together to realise the rights of the people of Palestine and reiterated Bangladesh’s unflinching commitment to the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine,” he said.
According to the kind instruction of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Bangladesh voted in favour of this resolution, said Muhit.
“We have not only voted yes for the resolution but also played an instrumental role in organising this emergency session. When the Security Council fails to adopt any resolution regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, it becomes urgent to hold an emergency session in the General Assembly."Ambassador Muhit also mentioned.
"In this regard, we sent a written letter to the President of the General Assembly to hold that emergency session. We mobilised support for the resolution. Earlier, in the Security Council Open Debates, we reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering support for Palestine and urged all the permanent and non-permanent members of the Council to work together for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”.
Bangladesh will continue to extend unwavering and steadfast support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian brothers and sisters for a just and lasting solution to their legitimate aspirations through the establishment of an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian State, according to a media release on Saturday.
The main focus of the UNGA resolution was immediate truce; immediate, continuous, sufficient, and unhindered provision of essential goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip; and protection of civilians and civilian objects, as well as the protection of humanitarian personnel, persons hors de combat, and humanitarian facilities and assets.
The resolution also called for the rescinding of the order by Israel, the occupying power; firmly rejected any attempts at forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population; and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive. It also referred to the two-state solution as a basis for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As mentioned, an amendment proposal to the resolution that proposed to condemn Hamas for attacking on October 7 was tabled by Canada. However, the amendment proposal failed to get adopted due to a lack of support from the majority (2/3rd) of the member states, as it did not refer to the horrific crimes being committed by Israeli defence forces.