International UN General Assembly calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the immediate release of the hostages held there. Switzerland also voted in favor of the resolution.

Switzerland was one of the 158 countries that supported the resolution, as was revealed in a statement from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on Platform X on Thursday night. 9 countries voted against the draft in New York - including the USA and Israel. There were also 13 abstentions.

Resolutions of the UN General Assembly are not binding, but have political symbolic power. Last year, the body already passed similar resolutions twice, but this time the language of the paper is clearer and the demands more vehement.

In addition, the General Assembly has now passed a resolution supporting the mandate of the recently controversial UN Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). 159 countries, including Switzerland, voted in favor, 9 against and 11 abstained. Both resolutions therefore received the necessary two-thirds majorities.