The emergency special session of the General Assembly was called after a recent resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza failed due to a US veto in the Security Council.
According to the UN Charter, a two-thirds majority is required to pass any resolution in the General Assembly. Currently, the number of member countries of the General Assembly is 193.
UNRWA assists approximately 6 million Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.
The resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel received 158 votes in favor and 9 votes against.
13 countries did not participate in the vote.
The resolution also called on all parties to abide by the ceasefire.
Besides, the demand for immediate and unconditional release of all hostages has also been reiterated in the proposal.
In these resolutions, the UN General Assembly called on all parties to take action regarding the conditions of arrest and detention, including the release of all hostages or detainees held arbitrarily and the release of the bodies of all dead persons, it also called on them to fulfill their obligations under international law.
Ensuring uninterrupted supply of aid
The General Assembly resolution called for ensuring the provision of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution rejects efforts to starve Palestinians and calls for UN-supervised access to Gaza.
The General Assembly also reiterated its commitment to accountability for crimes committed and to resolving the bi-state issue.
This solution includes a Palestinian state living alongside a democratically elected Israel in peace and security, with Gaza as part of it, with borders consistent with international law and UN resolutions.
The General Assembly strongly rejects any attempt to change the population or territorial integrity of the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA assistance
The resolution was passed by 159 votes in favor of UNRWA. 9 votes against the proposal and 11 countries abstained.
In this resolution, the UN General Assembly fully endorsed the mandate through which UNRWA was created.
The resolution supports all of the organization’s work in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.
The United States, Israel, Paraguay and several other countries voted against the draft resolution.
The UN General Assembly condemned a bill passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on October 28 declaring UNRWA an illegal organization. If this law is implemented into law, UNRWA will not be able to work in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.
The General Assembly called on the Government of Israel to fulfill its international obligations and to respect the privileges and diplomatic protection of UNRWA, so that the Agency can ensure the prompt, complete, safe delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip and that it can do so unimpeded.
The General Assembly emphasized the need for the continued work of UNRWA and stressed that the agency must continue its work to address the plight of more than six million Palestinian refugees.
As a result of the adoption of these two resolutions, the 10th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly was adjourned and may be reconvened at any time by the President of the General Assembly at the request of any member state.