Taking over from a paralyzed Security Council, the UN General Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza in a non-binding text aimed at putting pressure on Israel and its US ally, AFP said.

UN General AssemblyPhoto: Bebeto Matthews/AP/Profimedia

The resolution was adopted by 153 votes in favor, 10 against (including Israel and the US) and 23 abstentions from 193 member states.

A US amendment seeking to add condemnation of the “despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas” on October 7 was rejected.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israel is losing support because of the “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu must change, exposing a new rift in relations with the Israeli prime minister, Reuters writes.

Biden’s comments, made to donors to his 2024 re-election campaign, were his most critical of Netanyahu’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza. They stand in stark contrast to his literal and political embrace of the Israeli leader days after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7.

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