UN overwhelmingly votes for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, rejects amendments condemning Hamas

Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Gilad Erdan speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting to vote on a non-binding resolution demanding "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on December 12, 2023. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a resolution presented by Egypt demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and for the release of all hostages.

Just before the vote was taken during an emergency special session, the UN shot down two amendments to the resolution – one from Austria and another from the U.S. – condemning Hamas, as both required a two-thirds majority vote of approval to pass.

The President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, opened the emergency session just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, telling the room full of representatives that tens of thousands of people have died since the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel began on Oct. 7, with even more being displaced by violence with nowhere safe to go.