UN General Assembly votes by a large majority in favor of ceasefire in Gaza Strip
At the instigation of Egypt and Mauritania, the UN General Assembly convened for a special session on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The draft resolution calls for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages". It also expresses "grave concern" about the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip".
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and carried out the worst attack on the country since the founding of the state 75 years ago. Israel responded by bombing targets in the Gaza Strip and launching a ground offensive and announced that it would destroy Hamas.
The Federal Foreign Office announced Germany's abstention on the online service X, formerly Twitter, on the grounds that the current draft of the resolution concealed Hamas' "barbaric" attack on Israel and "at least implicitly" questioned Israel's right to "defend itself against this Hamas terror". The ministry also rejected a "no", referring to "the suffering of the Palestinians" and the release of the remaining hostages. Germany is committed to "humanitarian pauses", it said.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- German activists speak out in Dubai on suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip
- Nuclear fusion - hype or solution to energy problems?
- Budget crisis fuels debate on citizen's income - Bas warns against populism
Source: www.stern.de